Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Salt Lake City
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($287,900 vs $458,600)
54% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $12,999/yr
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.6%)
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $12,999 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.6%)
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $135/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,389)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
54% lower
395.5 vs 864.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$171k less
$287,900 vs $458,600
Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$12,999
$72,357 vs $59,358/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 32.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Salt Lake City is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salt Lake City leads 12 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 11 and Salt Lake City wins 12. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $458,600 median home), income ($59,358 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.