Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Rochester
Minnesota
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 23°F
Cons
Median income trails Rochester by $24,615/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
61% less violent crime than Clearwater
Households earn $24,615 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,389)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$24,615
$83,973 vs $59,358/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
61% lower
154.0 vs 395.5 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$19k less
$268,800 vs $287,900
Rochester
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 16 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 6 and Rochester wins 16. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $268,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Rochester, MN are about 1,232 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.