Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($287,900 vs $500,100)
30% less violent crime than Jersey City
Rent averages $410/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $31,793/yr
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $31,793 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
30% lower
395.5 vs 561.6 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$212k less
$287,900 vs $500,100
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$31,793
$91,151 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Jersey City 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $500,100 median home), income ($59,358 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,009 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.