Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Miami, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Miami
Florida
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($287,900 vs $433,900)
16% less violent crime than Miami
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Households earn $4,500 more per year on average
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,494)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Miami, FL
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $433,900
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Income
$4,500
$59,358 vs $54,858/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
16% lower
395.5 vs 473.3 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$146k less
$287,900 vs $433,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Miami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $433,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,494⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $54,858 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 11.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 78.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" ✓ Drier | 57.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 443,665 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 39.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 16.5% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Miami's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 19 and Miami wins 3. 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 Miami or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $433,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $54,858), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Miami, FL are about 219 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.