Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Minneapolis
Minnesota
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
66% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 22°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Homes cost $41k less ($287,900 vs $328,700)
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $16,974/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $16,974 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $122/mo less ($1,267 vs $1,389)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
66% lower
395.5 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$41k less
$287,900 vs $328,700
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.1°F
Minneapolis
Median Income
$16,974
$76,332 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,267 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $76,332 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 22.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Minneapolis wins 9. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $328,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Minneapolis, MN are about 1,308 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.