Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Clearwater leads 12 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
7% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($171,800 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $236/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,389)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
7% lower
395.5 vs 427.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$829
$60,187 vs $59,358/yr
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$116k less
$171,800 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 12 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 12 and Pittsburgh wins 11. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $171,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Pittsburgh, PA are about 876 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.