Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories
Clearwater
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $489k less ($287,900 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $588/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,977)
9% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $20,913/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,913 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Violent Crime
9% lower
395.5 vs 436.2 per 100k
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$489k less
$287,900 vs $777,100
Clearwater
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Clearwater
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$20,913
$80,271 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 41.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 19 of 22 categories. Clearwater wins 19 and Westminster wins 3. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($59,358 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Westminster, CA are about 2,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.