Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $417k less ($287,900 vs $705,000)
57% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $428/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $42,364/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $42,364 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
57% lower
395.5 vs 925.9 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$417k less
$287,900 vs $705,000
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$42,364
$101,722 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 14 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $705,000 median home), income ($59,358 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Washington, DC are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.