Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Frisco, TX
🏆 Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Frisco
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $244k less ($287,900 vs $531,400)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,803)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $85,209/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.9%)
Frisco, TX
Pros
Households earn $85,209 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Clearwater
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Higher rents — median is $1,803/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$244k less
$287,900 vs $531,400
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Frisco
Median Income
$85,209
$144,567 vs $59,358/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
74% lower
100.9 vs 395.5 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Frisco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $531,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,803⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $144,567 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 29.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 96.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | FRISCO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 42.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 202,075 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 67.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 28.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Frisco's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 16 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 7 and Frisco wins 16. 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 Frisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $531,400 median home), income ($59,358 vs $144,567), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Frisco, TX are about 908 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.