Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Rochester
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
32% less violent crime than Rochester
Households earn $15,202 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 33°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Rochester
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($111,400 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $394/mo less ($995 vs $1,389)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Clearwater by $15,202/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$15,202
$59,358 vs $44,156/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
32% lower
395.5 vs 582.3 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.5% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$177k less
$111,400 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ 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 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and Rochester 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $111,400 median home), income ($59,358 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Rochester, NY are about 1,088 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.