Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Fremont, CA
🏆 Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Fremont
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$169,023 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
228,795 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $944k less ($287,900 vs $1,231,500)
Rent averages $1435/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,824)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Fremont
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 58°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fremont by $109,665/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 4.0%)
Fremont, CA
Pros
Households earn $109,665 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Clearwater
More college-educated — 61.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (195.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.0%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,231,500
Higher rents — median is $2,824/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$944k less
$287,900 vs $1,231,500
Clearwater
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 77.0°F
Fremont
Median Income
$109,665
$169,023 vs $59,358/yr
Fremont
Violent Crime
51% lower
195.7 vs 395.5 per 100k
Fremont
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Fremont, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $1,231,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,824⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $169,023 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 28.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Fremont Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 14.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 228,795 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 60.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fremont's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fremont leads 12 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 10 and Fremont wins 12. 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 Fremont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $1,231,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $169,023), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Fremont, CA are about 2,351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.