Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Fayetteville, AR
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Fayetteville
Arkansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
7% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $445/mo less ($944 vs $1,389)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$2,477
$59,358 vs $56,881/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
7% lower
395.5 vs 423.7 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Fayetteville, AR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $944 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $56,881 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ 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 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 50.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 46.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 46.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 95,022 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 28.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fayetteville's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Fayetteville 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 Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $291,300 median home), income ($59,358 vs $56,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Fayetteville, AR are about 870 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.