Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Columbia, MD
🏆 Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories
Clearwater
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Columbia
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($287,900 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,895)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 43°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $65,179/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $65,179 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$171k less
$287,900 vs $458,700
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$65,179
$124,537 vs $59,358/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Columbia, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $458,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,895⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $124,537 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 63.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Howard County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 42.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 49.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 106,600 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Columbia's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 11 of 20 categories. Clearwater wins 9 and Columbia wins 11. 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 Clearwater to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $458,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $124,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Columbia, MD are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.