Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
16% less violent crime than South Fulton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 54°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails South Fulton by $18,130/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than South Fulton
South Fulton, GA
Pros
Households earn $18,130 more per year on average
Homes cost $46k less ($242,200 vs $287,900)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.7%)
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
16% lower
395.5 vs 470.5 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Median Income
$18,130
$77,488 vs $59,358/yr
South Fulton
Median Home Value
$46k less
$242,200 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $242,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $77,488 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 54.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 15 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 15 and South Fulton 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 South Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $242,200 median home), income ($59,358 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and South Fulton, GA are about 405 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.