Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Clearwater leads 17 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
71% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 31°F
Households earn $8,611 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lansing
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $176k less ($112,200 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $435/mo less ($954 vs $1,389)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clearwater by $8,611/yr
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$8,611
$59,358 vs $50,747/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
71% lower
395.5 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$176k less
$112,200 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 17 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 17 and Lansing wins 6. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $112,200 median home), income ($59,358 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Lansing, MI are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.