Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Sunrise, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 13 of 19 categories
Clearwater
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Sunrise
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
96,510
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,846)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunrise
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunrise by $6,643/yr
Sunrise, FL
Pros
Households earn $6,643 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 71°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,846/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Sunrise
Median Income
$6,643
$66,001 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Sunrise, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $296,100 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,846⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $66,001 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 76.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" ✓ Drier | 67.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 96,510 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 42.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Sunrise's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 13 of 19 categories. Clearwater wins 13 and Sunrise 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 Sunrise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $296,100 median home), income ($59,358 vs $66,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Sunrise, FL are about 199 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.