Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Clearwater, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
12% less violent crime than Clearwater
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 90°F
Households earn $4,668 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $241k less ($287,900 vs $528,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Bellingham by $4,668/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$4,668
$64,026 vs $59,358/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
12% lower
350.0 vs 395.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$241k less
$287,900 vs $528,600
Clearwater
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Clearwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $287,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,389⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $59,358 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 31.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 56.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 116,984 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 58.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Clearwater's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 8 and Clearwater wins 15. 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 Bellingham to Clearwater or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $287,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $59,358), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Clearwater, FL are about 2,543 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.