Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $23k less ($287,900 vs $311,100)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $51,765/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Pearland
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,765 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$23k less
$287,900 vs $311,100
Pearland
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$51,765
$111,123 vs $59,358/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
76% lower
95.9 vs 395.5 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.7% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 64.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 8 and Pearland wins 14. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($59,358 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Pearland, TX are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.