Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Des Moines, IA
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
44% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Des Moines
Median income trails Des Moines by $3,020/yr
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($170,700 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($995 vs $1,389)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $3,020 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
44% lower
395.5 vs 703.0 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 85.6°F
Des Moines
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Des Moines
Median Income
$3,020
$62,378 vs $59,358/yr
Des Moines
Median Home Value
$117k less
$170,700 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Des Moines, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $170,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $62,378 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 185⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 28.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Des Moines Independent Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 36.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 213,164 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Des Moines's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Des Moines is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Des Moines wins 10. 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 Des Moines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $170,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $62,378), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Des Moines, IA are about 1,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.