Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Clearwater, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $12,315 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $75/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,389)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Clearwater, FL
Pros
27% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 32°F
Homes cost $17k less ($287,900 vs $304,500)
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $12,315/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$12,315
$71,673 vs $59,358/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
27% lower
395.5 vs 539.8 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$17k less
$287,900 vs $304,500
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Clearwater, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $287,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,389⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $59,358 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 16.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 31.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 56.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 116,984 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 46.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 58.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 23.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Clearwater's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Clearwater or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $287,900 median home), income ($71,673 vs $59,358), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Clearwater, FL are about 997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.