Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 16 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
San Bernardino
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
56% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Homes cost $59k less ($287,900 vs $347,100)
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
56% lower
395.5 vs 897.1 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$59k less
$287,900 vs $347,100
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Median Income
$1,965
$61,323 vs $59,358/yr
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 16 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 16 and San Bernardino wins 6. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $347,100 median home), income ($59,358 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,077 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.