In 1857, with his wife Martha and six sons, John Brandon made his way to a small area outside of what used to be called Fort Brooke, to later brand the town by his name.
Close to Clearwater and Tampa yet with no beaches of its own, Brandon, Florida still flaunts fabulous family fun.
According to USA Today, the province close to Florida's west coast, is but an hour from the Gulf of Mexico, making it a prime location for short day trips to the outstanding ocean basin. When not enjoying outside and inside entertainment, locals are busy living full lives committed to their education and careers. If you ever thought about moving to Florida, read this guide about Brandon, one of Florida's best kept secrets.
Brandon Climate
The community's humid subtropical climate never gets too cold or hot for locals who love being outside. Lengthy warm summers average 85 degree days and shorter cooler winters average 62 degrees. Snow is very rare and the winter season typically averages low temperatures in the 30s, and sometimes has freezing weather a few days of the year. It will usually dip down to 20 degrees at least twice a year, giving locals a little bit of a chill. So close to Tampa, the region receives heavy rainfall averaging 44 inches annually.
Brandon Neighborhoods
Known for being Tampa's foremost bedroom community, the locale breeds a quarter century of history in edifices all around the area. Some sections of the city feature school sites while other areas flaunt affluent homes. If you're looking for up-scale living in Brandon, you will want to check out the homes on Bell Shoals Road, Grand Isle Drive and Provide Run Boulevard. If you have young children, you may want to consider living close to the many elementary, middle and high school campuses in the community on Lakewood Drive, East Brandon Boulevard and West Bloomington Avenue. Though the sector is seemingly safe with a low crime rate, there are some popular parts of the province with high security on Bryan Road, Town Center and Compton Street.
Registering Your Car
Once you become a Florida resident, you must turn in your existing out of state driver's license to legally drive in the area. To obtain a driving permit you must provide primary identification including proof of Social Security Number and two documents authenticating your new address. After receiving a license, you must register your car as soon as possible. According to the state law, you have 10 days to record your car from the date you begin employment or have your child enrolled in the school system. To register your vehicle, you must provide proof of ownership, Vehicle Identification Number and proof of insurance.
Brandon Schools
Governed by the Hillsborough Public School System, area students are trained at any one of the districts dozen elementary, middle and high schools. Headquartered in Tampa, the third largest district in state and eighth biggest system in North America, leads thousands of students from kindergarten to senior year, sending them off into the world with a strong educational foundation. This dedication was acknowledged by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2009 with a $100 million dollar grant purposed to enhance the educational system.
As for post-secondary education, Brandon is not a bad place to be trained. With Tampa College only nine miles away and Southeastern Florida University 22 miles away, students commute to the four-year campuses or stay in town and study at Hillsborough Community College. And when it comes time to private education, the province offers a plethora of sites specializing in religious-based curriculum.
Brandon Employment
A bedroom community, Brandon locals most often work outside of the region in any of the thriving industries in Hillsborough County. Some of the county's largest employers include School District of Hillsborough County with more than 25,000 staff members, MacDill Air Force Base with 12,000 employees and Hillsborough County Government with 10,600 laborers. If residents are not making a good living in education or the military, they are surely working in the well-established retail industry found in the Westfield Shopping Center Mall. Other industries that help the sector's economy stay strong are construction, manufacturing and financial services. As for municipal merchants, they look to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce to make the connections they need to keep businesses booming.
Living Costs in the City
According to CNN Money, the median family income is $67,863 and the median home price is $113,400 in the region. Couple that with the 7.6 percent less expensive cost of living than the national average and you find you ask yourself why you are not already living in the Brandon borders. An average-sized apartment with basic amenities starts at $750 a month; however, rental prices rise for more luxurious residences in the region. Utility services also vary depending on the family size and service usage.
Brandon Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to Brandon, whether you’re moving from out of state or county in Florida. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
Brandon Transportation
Served by three express and local bus lines, locals often look for a ride with the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit when looking to get around town. As for residents who enjoying driving around the region themselves, I-75 is the route to follow. When flying in and out of the region, visitors and residents must use the Tampa International Airport that is less than 30 miles away.
Culture & Contemporary Life
Home to former Florida Championship Wrestling, now NXT Wrestling, the Brandon area boasts some of the best up and coming professional wrestlers yet to be seen. Being fit in Brandon is not just for the professionals. Locals love to sweat themselves into shape as members of the Brandon Running Club. Residents also revel in regional sporting activities at the area's many parks or recreational sites. When it comes time for a little more formal fun, locals look to the Brandon Ballet company and Florida Academy for the Performing Arts for entertainment. With the city of Tampa less than 20 minutes away, locals look to the small metropolis for a good time at Lettuce Lake Park, Bayshore Boulevard, Serengeti Night Safari at Busch Gardens and dozens of other hot spots in the district.
Brandon Relocation Tips
- Relocating is a mammoth chore, which is why asking for moving help is a wise thing to do. You would be surprised how many family and friends want to step up to the plate when they find out you are moving to another province.
- Know the mover's duties and responsibilities so you are aware of what important tasks may or may not be getting done during moving. Remember you hired the movers so you have every right to point out any problems you may see.
- Moving is no joke, which is why reflecting on the move after you have settled in is so important. You never know what you may have missed along the very stressful way.