Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Clearwater, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($227,200 vs $287,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Clearwater by $4,918/yr
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Clearwater
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,918 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Bridgeport
Median Home Value
$61k less
$227,200 vs $287,900
Clearwater
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Income
$4,918
$59,358 vs $54,440/yr
Clearwater
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Clearwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 ✓ Lower | $287,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,389⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $59,358 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% | 31.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 56.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 116,984 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 58.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Clearwater's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 9 and Clearwater wins 14. 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 Bridgeport to Clearwater or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $287,900 median home), income ($54,440 vs $59,358), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Clearwater, FL are about 1,061 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.