Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Long Beach, 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
Long Beach
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($287,900 vs $709,700)
42% less violent crime than Long Beach
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,698)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $19,637/yr
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,637 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
42% lower
395.5 vs 676.4 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$422k less
$287,900 vs $709,700
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$19,637
$78,995 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Long Beach, 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 | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 166⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 33.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Long Beach'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 Long Beach 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Long Beach, CA are about 2,126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.