Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($287,900 vs $679,000)
14% less violent crime than Downey
Rent averages $425/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,814)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $24,878/yr
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,878 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
14% lower
395.5 vs 460.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$391k less
$287,900 vs $679,000
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.6% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$24,878
$84,236 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 7.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 19 and Downey wins 3. 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $679,000 median home), income ($59,358 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Downey, CA are about 2,124 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.