Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Santa Clarita, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 12 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Santa Clarita
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,186 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
225,850 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $381k less ($287,900 vs $669,200)
Rent averages $926/mo less ($1,389 vs $2,315)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clarita
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clarita by $56,828/yr
Santa Clarita, CA
Pros
Households earn $56,828 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Clearwater
Violent crime is well below the national average (165.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 38.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $669,200
Higher rents — median is $2,315/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$381k less
$287,900 vs $669,200
Clearwater
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Santa Clarita
Median Income
$56,828
$116,186 vs $59,358/yr
Santa Clarita
Violent Crime
58% lower
165.4 vs 395.5 per 100k
Santa Clarita
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 90.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Santa Clarita, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $669,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,315⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $116,186 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 38.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Saugus Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 63.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 15.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 225,850 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Santa Clarita's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 12 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 12 and Santa Clarita wins 11. 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 Santa Clarita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $669,200 median home), income ($59,358 vs $116,186), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Santa Clarita, CA are about 2,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.