Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
77% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $58k less ($266,400 vs $324,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $7,112 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$7,112
$71,156 vs $64,044/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
77% lower
131.1 vs 575.8 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$58k less
$266,400 vs $324,800
Brandon
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 74.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 15 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $324,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.