Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Brandon leads 16 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Waterbury
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $19,705 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $104k less ($162,800 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,570)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $19,705/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$19,705
$71,156 vs $51,451/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
59% lower
131.1 vs 322.5 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$104k less
$162,800 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 52.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 16 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Brandon to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $162,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Waterbury, CT are about 1,077 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.