Signals
Ruskin
Brandon
Climate
83 · Top 10%
vs81 · Top 13%
Physical resilience
35 · Bottom 28%
vs35 · Bottom 28%
Housing affordability
80 · Bottom 49%
vs66 · Bottom 28%
Schools
10 · Bottom 2%
vs29 · Bottom 21%
Access
93 · Top 45%
vs97 · Top 30%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 43%
vs59 · Bottom 48%
Measured values
| Metric | Ruskin | Brandon | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 29,834 | 119,767 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $79,235 | $79,685 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,968 | $41,340 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,637/sq mi | 3,615/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $323,000 | $339,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,419 | $1,784 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 75.4% | 56.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.4% | 33.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.8% | 11.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 55°F | 53°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.6" | 49.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 20 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 39.5 min | 30.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.0 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 9 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 22.74 | 19.09 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 34.6% | 46.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 36.2% | 47.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 45.7% | 55.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Ruskin
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Brandon
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: Ruskin, FL · Brandon, FL · How this is calculated: methodology