Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Independence
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
31% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Independence
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($150,800 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $369/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,389)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$1,943
$59,358 vs $57,415/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
31% lower
395.5 vs 571.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.9°F
Independence
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$137k less
$150,800 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 122,218 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Independence wins 8. 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 Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $150,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Independence, MO are about 1,015 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.