Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 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
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
26% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
Households earn $5,053 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $51k less ($236,500 vs $287,900)
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Clearwater by $5,053/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$5,053
$59,358 vs $54,305/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
26% lower
395.5 vs 534.8 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
New Haven
Median Home Value
$51k less
$236,500 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 14 and New Haven 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $236,500 median home), income ($59,358 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and New Haven, CT are about 1,076 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.