Lakeland vs Brandon
The short version
- Lakeland is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Brandon area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $249,400 in Lakeland and $339,000 in Brandon.
- Households earn more in Brandon ($79,685 vs $64,185 median).
- Lakeland has more scorching days: 119 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 94.
- Lakeland is growing faster: +11.5% since 2020 vs +0%.
- Commutes are shorter in Lakeland (23 vs 28 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Lakeland, FL | Brandon, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 125,520 | 119,767 |
| Growth since 2020 | +11.5% | n/a |
| People per square mile | 1,885 | 3,615 |
| Median age | 38.9 | 37.3 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29% | 34% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $64,185 | $79,685 |
| Median home value | $249,400 | $339,000 |
| Home value to income | 3.9× | 4.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,395 | $1,784 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 97.1 | 100.9 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 95.9 | 125.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,900 | $75,700 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 56% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 6.98% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.1 | 28.4 |
| Work from home | 14% | 18% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.5% | 4.6% |
| Poverty rate | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 74° / 51° | 71° / 53° |
| July high / low | 92° / 74° | 91° / 77° |
| Precipitation per year | 57 in | 50 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 119 | 94 |
| Nights below freezing | 3 | 1 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.5 | 98.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 95% | 50% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.4% | +1.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.9% | +47.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Lakeland: October to April. Brandon: October to April.
Full monthly tables: Lakeland weather by month and Brandon weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,900 in Lakeland and $75,700 in Brandon. Moving from Lakeland to Brandon, you would need about $77,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Lakeland and Brandon
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Lakeland and Brandon.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.