Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield 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 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
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 Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 36°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Springfield
Median income trails Springfield by $3,061/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($147,700 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $476/mo less ($913 vs $1,389)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Clearwater
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Violent Crime
56% lower
395.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$3,061
$62,419 vs $59,358/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$140k less
$147,700 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 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 | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($59,358 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Springfield, IL are about 906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.