Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Kenosha, WI
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Kenosha
Wisconsin
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,963 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
99,493
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Median income trails Kenosha by $5,605/yr
Kenosha, WI
Pros
Homes cost $94k less ($194,400 vs $287,900)
28% less violent crime than Clearwater
Rent averages $310/mo less ($1,079 vs $1,389)
Households earn $5,605 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.8°F
Kenosha
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Kenosha
Median Income
$5,605
$64,963 vs $59,358/yr
Kenosha
Violent Crime
28% lower
285.7 vs 395.5 per 100k
Kenosha
Median Home Value
$94k less
$194,400 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Kenosha, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $194,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,079 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $64,963 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 24.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Kenosha School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 31.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 36.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 99,493 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Kenosha's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Kenosha is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Kenosha wins 10. 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 Kenosha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $194,400 median home), income ($59,358 vs $64,963), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Kenosha, WI are about 1,049 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.