Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Clearwater leads 17 of 23 categories
Clearwater
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,358 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,984 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
27% less violent crime than Yakima
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 31.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,624 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,389/mo
Yakima, WA
Pros
Rent averages $375/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,389)
Homes cost $45k less ($243,300 vs $287,900)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.7%)
Median income trails Clearwater by $3,624/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Median Income
$3,624
$59,358 vs $55,734/yr
Clearwater
Violent Crime
27% lower
395.5 vs 544.3 per 100k
Clearwater
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Yakima
Median Home Value
$45k less
$243,300 vs $287,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 101.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 | $243,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Yakima is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 17 of 23 categories. Clearwater wins 17 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($59,358 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Yakima, WA are about 2,409 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.