Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Huntington Beach, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Huntington Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$114,747 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
197,481 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $689k less ($287,900 vs $976,800)
Rent averages $929/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,318)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Huntington Beach
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Huntington Beach by $55,389/yr
Huntington Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $55,389 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (207.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $976,800
Higher rents — median is $2,318/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$689k less
$287,900 vs $976,800
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 78.9°F
Huntington Beach
Median Income
$55,389
$114,747 vs $59,358/yr
Huntington Beach
Violent Crime
48% lower
207.3 vs 395.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Huntington Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $976,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,318⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $114,747 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 16.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Huntington Beach City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 197,481 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 43.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 17.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Huntington Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Huntington Beach 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 Huntington Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $976,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $114,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Huntington Beach, CA are about 2,117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.