Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Elk Grove, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clearwater
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($287,900 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $687/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,076)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $56,506/yr
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,506 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$273k less
$287,900 vs $560,500
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.4% unemployment
Elk Grove
Median Income
$56,506
$115,864 vs $59,358/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
52% lower
189.9 vs 395.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Elk Grove, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $560,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,076⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $115,864 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Elk Grove Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 18.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 176,105 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 73.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Elk Grove's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clearwater wins 11 and Elk Grove wins 11. 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 Elk Grove or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $560,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $115,864), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Elk Grove, CA are about 2,327 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.