Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 17 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Lancaster
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
53% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $81k less ($287,900 vs $368,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Rent averages $187/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,576)
Cons
Median income trails Lancaster by $12,009/yr
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,009 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
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
Violent Crime
53% lower
395.5 vs 834.7 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$81k less
$287,900 vs $368,800
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Median Income
$12,009
$71,367 vs $59,358/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 57.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 17 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 17 and Lancaster wins 5. 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $368,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Lancaster, CA are about 2,129 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.