Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Montgomery
Alabama
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $5,192 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($141,900 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,389)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Clearwater by $5,192/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$5,192
$59,358 vs $54,166/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
33% lower
395.5 vs 594.6 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$146k less
$141,900 vs $287,900
Montgomery
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 14 and Montgomery 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $141,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Montgomery, AL are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.