Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
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 42°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $6,729/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
34% less violent crime than Clearwater
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,389)
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $40k less ($247,900 vs $287,900)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.9°F
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$6,729
$66,087 vs $59,358/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
34% lower
262.0 vs 395.5 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$40k less
$247,900 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $247,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,065 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $66,087 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 46.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Fayette County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 42.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 49.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 321,276 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 54.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lexington-Fayette urban county's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 9 and Lexington-Fayette urban county wins 14. 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $247,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $66,087), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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