Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Clearwater leads 18 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Trenton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $14,914 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($111,200 vs $287,900)
Rent averages $212/mo less ($1,177 vs $1,389)
Cons
Median income trails Clearwater by $14,914/yr
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$14,914
$59,358 vs $44,444/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
61% lower
395.5 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Trenton
Median Home Value
$177k less
$111,200 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,177 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Trenton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 18 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 18 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $111,200 median home), income ($59,358 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Trenton, NJ are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.