Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Federal Way, WA
🏆 Clearwater leads 20 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Federal Way
Washington
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
99,614
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($287,900 vs $454,300)
27% less violent crime than Federal Way
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,660)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Federal Way by $21,002/yr
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $21,002 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
27% lower
395.5 vs 545.4 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$166k less
$287,900 vs $454,300
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 76.8°F
Federal Way
Median Income
$21,002
$80,360 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Federal Way, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $454,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,660⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $80,360 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 208⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 30.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Federal Way School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 40.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 99,614 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 55.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Federal Way's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 20 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 20 and Federal Way 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 Federal Way or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $454,300 median home), income ($59,358 vs $80,360), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Federal Way, WA are about 2,505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.