Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Columbia, MO
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Columbia
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Columbia
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Columbia, MO
Pros
Rent averages $392/mo less ($997 vs $1,389)
12% less violent crime than Clearwater
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Homes cost $39k less ($248,600 vs $287,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$1,097
$60,455 vs $59,358/yr
Columbia
Violent Crime
12% lower
347.5 vs 395.5 per 100k
Columbia
Median Home Value
$39k less
$248,600 vs $287,900
Columbia
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $248,600 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $997 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $60,455 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 7.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 99 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (123) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 55.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | COLUMBIA 93 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 44.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 126,172 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 48.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Columbia's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 8 and Columbia 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 Clearwater to Columbia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $248,600 median home), income ($59,358 vs $60,455), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Columbia, MO are about 936 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.