Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Fargo, ND
🏆 Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Fargo
North Dakota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,432 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
127,319 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
21% less violent crime than Fargo
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 17°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Fargo
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.6%)
Median income trails Fargo by $5,074/yr
Fargo, ND
Pros
Rent averages $489/mo less ($900 vs $1,389)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $33k less ($254,900 vs $287,900)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (498.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
21% lower
395.5 vs 498.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.6°F
Fargo
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fargo
Median Income
$5,074
$64,432 vs $59,358/yr
Fargo
Median Home Value
$33k less
$254,900 vs $287,900
Fargo
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Fargo, ND |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $254,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $900 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $64,432 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 15.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | FARGO 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 17.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 24.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 127,319 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 44.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fargo's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Fargo is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fargo leads 13 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 10 and Fargo 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 Fargo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $254,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $64,432), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Fargo, ND are about 1,511 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.