Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 16 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $535k less ($287,900 vs $822,600)
46% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $16,886/yr
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $16,886 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 90°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/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
46% lower
395.5 vs 728.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$535k less
$287,900 vs $822,600
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$16,886
$76,244 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Los Angeles, 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 | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 16 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 16 and Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $822,600 median home), income ($59,358 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Los Angeles, CA are about 2,141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.