Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($287,900 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $761/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $47,567/yr
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,567 more per year on average
54% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$280k less
$287,900 vs $567,700
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$47,567
$106,925 vs $59,358/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
54% lower
183.7 vs 395.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 45 ✓ 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 | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Murrieta wins 8. 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $567,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Murrieta, CA are about 2,070 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.