Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Richardson
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($287,900 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,725)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 56°F
Cons
Median income trails Richardson by $35,004/yr
Richardson, TX
Pros
Households earn $35,004 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$92k less
$287,900 vs $379,800
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Richardson
Median Income
$35,004
$94,362 vs $59,358/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
63% lower
146.7 vs 395.5 per 100k
Richardson
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 118,063 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Richardson is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 9 and Richardson 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $379,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Richardson, TX are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.