Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Conroe, TX
🏆 Conroe leads 13 of 22 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
Conroe
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,630 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
92,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Conroe by $12,272/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.4%)
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Conroe
Conroe, TX
Pros
38% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.5 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,272 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.4%)
Rent averages $134/mo less ($1,255 vs $1,389)
Homes cost $25k less ($262,500 vs $287,900)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Conroe
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Conroe
Median Income
$12,272
$71,630 vs $59,358/yr
Conroe
Violent Crime
38% lower
243.5 vs 395.5 per 100k
Conroe
Median Home Value
$25k less
$262,500 vs $287,900
Conroe
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.7% unemployment
Conroe
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Conroe, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $262,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,255 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $71,630 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 32.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | CONROE ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 62.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 51.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 92,475 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Conroe's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Conroe is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Conroe leads 13 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 9 and Conroe wins 13. 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 Conroe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $262,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $71,630), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Conroe, TX are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.