Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 21 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
114,923
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $39k less ($266,400 vs $305,600)
Households earn $8,145 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Worcester, MA
Pros
87% less violent crime than Brandon
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,312 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Median income trails Brandon by $8,145/yr
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$8,145
$71,156 vs $63,011/yr
Brandon
Median Home Value
$39k less
$266,400 vs $305,600
Brandon
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 79.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Worcester
Violent Crime
87% lower
16.5 vs 131.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,312 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $63,011 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 21 categories. Brandon wins 14 and Worcester 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $305,600 median home), income ($71,156 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Worcester, MA are about 1,152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.