Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Clearwater leads 16 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
36% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $7,835 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($162,000 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $472/mo less ($917 vs $1,389)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clearwater by $7,835/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$7,835
$59,358 vs $51,523/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
36% lower
395.5 vs 620.4 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$126k less
$162,000 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 16 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 16 and Roanoke wins 7. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $162,000 median home), income ($59,358 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Roanoke, VA are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.