Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Fayetteville
North Carolina
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
40% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $5,934 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 54°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($158,500 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $272/mo less ($1,117 vs $1,389)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Clearwater by $5,934/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$5,934
$59,358 vs $53,424/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
40% lower
395.5 vs 660.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$129k less
$158,500 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 30.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 14 and Fayetteville wins 9. 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 $158,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Fayetteville, NC are about 539 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.