Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Denver, CO
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Denver
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($287,900 vs $540,400)
60% less violent crime than Denver
Rent averages $276/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,665)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $26,495/yr
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,495 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
60% lower
395.5 vs 993.0 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$253k less
$287,900 vs $540,400
Denver
Median Income
$26,495
$85,853 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Denver, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $540,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $85,853 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 20.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 247⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 54.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 15.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 710,800 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Denver's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 14 and Denver wins 8. 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 Denver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $540,400 median home), income ($59,358 vs $85,853), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Denver, CO are about 1,501 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.