Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 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
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($287,900 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $512/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,901)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 38°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $31,310/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $31,310 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Clearwater
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$275k less
$287,900 vs $563,200
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$31,310
$90,668 vs $59,358/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
15% lower
335.1 vs 395.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 52.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Quincy 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $563,200 median home), income ($59,358 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Quincy, MA are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.