A thriving suburb east of Tampa with access to area attractions
The thriving community of Brandon touts a central Florida location east of Tampa and Gulf Coast beaches. The Hillsborough County suburb sits 12 miles from Downtown Tampa and is known for its shopping and dining hubs. Major thoroughfares provide access to Tampa Bay-area attractions and employers. “It’s really close to a lot of different places,” says Sahel Azizi, Resident Experience Manager at Cortland Santos Flats, a nearby apartment community. “We’re close to Downtown Tampa but far away from the chaos of a busier city area, and there are many different spots to shop.” The town was named after John Brandon, who moved to the area in 1857 and purchased 200 acres. Once an agricultural hub with farms and ranches, Brandon grew into a bedroom community for commuters in the 1950s. Growth exploded in the ‘80s, with more residential development in its southern half and the expansion of Interstate 75. Today, Brandon is home to 117,000 people, many flocking to the area for job opportunities, top schools and affordability. Its largest industries are healthcare, finance and retail. HCA Florida Brandon Hospital is its biggest employer, followed by InMotionGlobal and Suncoast Community Health Centers. Hillsborough County Public Schools is also a top employer for the county. Despite major growth, Brandon has maintained its small-town feel. “My family has been here for four generations, and I can still go to the grocery store and see people we went to school with,” says Trish Carter, Broker/Owner of Carter Company Realtors. “No matter how much it grows, it still feels small.”
Brandon is approximately 12 miles from downtown Tampa.
No matter where you are in Brandon you're always close to a place to cure the cravings.
Major interstates and roadways connect easily to Brandon from Tampa.
HCA is one of Brandon's largest employers.
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A hub for shopping centers and diverse dining
The Brandon Mall is one of the largest shopping centers in the Tampa area, with more than 150 stores and 25 dining options. “The mall is right on Highway 60, which is the center of Brandon and where the bulk of shopping opportunities are found,” says Carter. Winthrop Town Centre is another major, mixed-used shopping hub, with retailers, restaurants and offices. The community provides big-box stores, national grocers and restaurant chains. It’s the birthplace of the popular sports bar chain Beef O’ Brady’s. It also has a diverse selection of mom-and-pop eateries. Brandon’s Food Truck Park is a favorite that operates four days a week with around 20 locally owned businesses, ranging from Mexican to vegan and Caribbean fare. The food truck spot hosts an annual Asian Street Food Festival in September. Entertainment options include chain facilities like iFLY Indoor Skydiving, TopGolf And K1 Speed Indoor Go Garts. The town’s Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association provides art classes, exhibits and youth summer camps.
Brandon Mall has ample parking for residents and visitors.
Winthrop Town Centre, just outside of Brandon, has a variety of shopping and dining options.
Beef 'O' Brady's in Brandon is a fast-casual dining option.
Fun entertainment is not hard to find in Brandon like here at Top Golf.
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Established neighborhoods with home prices lower than Tampa
Brandon offers traditional homes in more-established neighborhoods, primarily built between the 1960s and late ‘80s. Most new construction is in the southern half of town. Median home prices for October 2024 were $365,000, up 1.7% from last year. Prices are 25% lower than Tampa, and homes stay on the market for approximately 24 days. Hidden Reserve is a higher-end gated community with modern, single-family homes averaging around $850,000. Heather Lakes is popular for those who want to be near schools and parks but also close to the interstate. Sterling Ranch is an older, affordable neighborhood with single-family homes surrounded by lakes, parks and a bird sanctuary. Prices average around the high-$300,000s. The community also has multifamily housing for rent, including apartment complexes like Providence Lakes and condominiums like those in Park Lake at Parsons. “There are a lot of apartment communities being built and updated,” says Azizi. “It’s a good first place to get to know the area.” Median rental prices for November 2024 were $2,155.
Brandon offers many homes in well established neighborhoods.
Hidden Reserve is a nice, gated community in Brandon.
Sterling Ranch is another popular neighborhood in Brandon.
Brandon is home to many new apartment communities.
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Surrounded by state parks, hiking trails and natural springs
The community has several parks and sports facilities, like Brandon Park & Recreation Center, a central spot for outdoor fun and all-age programs. Brandon Parkway Trail is a 3-mile, multiuse path running parallel to the major route. It winds around ponds and connects to other natural spaces. Brandon’s JC Handley Sports Complex is a major facility with 33 soccer, football and baseball fields. Many youth sports leagues practice at the facility. Trails, state parks, golf clubs and nature preserves are not far outside its boundaries. Eureka Springs Park sits 7 miles north and has been a popular recreation spot since 1938. Spanning 31 acres, it’s Hillsborough’s only botanical garden and offers forested trails and a rose garden. The 160-acre Lithia Springs Park is 8 miles east and is a conservation area known for its natural spring. The park is a hot spot for swimming, fishing and camping. Clearwater beaches are 36 miles west, less than 1 hour without traffic.
Brandon Park houses the community center where locals like to participate in activities.
JC Handley Sports Complex is a home for youth sports driving the importance of team sports.
The Eureka Springs Conservation Park was first established in 1938.
Well-known for its natural spring FishHawk offers a great spot for swimming.
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Home to the second-best school district in the Tampa area
Hillsborough County Public Schools serves the area and is ranked the second-best district in the Tampa area, according to Niche. It has a B-plus rating and caters to more than 224,000 students. Seven private schools are also available, including Brandon Academy, a top school for STEM that serves kindergarten through 12th grade. Hillsborough Community College has a campus in northern Brandon.
Mintz Elementary School is focused on providing quality education to students in Brandon, FL.
McLane Middle’s nationally recognized Robotics program in Brandon is one of the highlights here.
Brandon Academy is a private school that serves students in the Brandon, Florida area.
HCC has a large campus in Brandon.
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Subtropical climate prone to hurricanes
Brandon experiences a subtropical climate with humid, hot summers and mild winters. The community is at risk of flooding and hurricane damage. Hillsborough County releases an annual Disaster Preparedness Guide with emergency shelter locations, best practices and other resources. The HCFL Alert pings residents with emergency updates during an event, and the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) bus system takes passengers to shelters.
Fair and seafood festivals
The Hillsborough County Fairgrounds are on Brandon’s west side. The 12-day fair kicks off every October and is a favorite for carnival games, rides and entertainment. It’s also the site of the Festival of Lights in December. The Brandon Seafood Festival has been a tradition for over 30 years. Held in January, the all-you-can-eat festival is held at Rotary Camp Florida. The Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival is another local favorite that's held every April.
Families stop for a photo op during the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival.
Central Florida artists sell their handmade creations at the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival
The Festival of Lights attracts many visitors from Valrico during the holiday season.
Valrico residents love having fun at the local fairs and events.
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Twelve miles from Downtown Tampa
Route 60 and Interstate 75 are the major thoroughfares serving Brandon, intersecting in the western part of the community. Downtown Tampa is a 12-mile drive, Tampa International Airport is 19 miles west, and Clearwater is 35 miles away. HART provides public transportation, and Brandon is served by three express and four local bus lines.
Written By
Amy David
Photography Contributed By
Raif Fluker
Video By
Sara Warthen
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Brandon, FL sell after 64 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Brandon, FL over the last 12 months is $363,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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