Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 16 of 21 categories
Clearwater
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984
West Palm Beach
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
31% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,614)
Homes cost $37k less ($287,900 vs $324,800)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $4,686/yr
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,686 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
31% lower
395.5 vs 575.8 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$37k less
$287,900 vs $324,800
Clearwater
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$4,686
$64,044 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | West Palm Beach, 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 | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 16 of 21 categories. Clearwater wins 16 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $324,800 median home), income ($59,358 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 183 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.