Clearwater, Florida
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Clearwater.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Clearwater?
For relocators asking how much Clearwater costs: the housing index sits at 111 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $326,100 and rents near $1,539. Local median income is about $64,440 and unemployment recently ran 4.4% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 24 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 399.3 per 100k (catalog avg 586.6).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 111U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $326,100U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,539U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $64,440U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.4%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 24 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 399.3per 100k · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 90°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Clearwater compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 116,811City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $64,440Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year18% below U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 111ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year11% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $326,100City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year7% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,539City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year14% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.4%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 24 minNear U.S. avg (25 min)U.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 4011% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 399.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)32% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2392.3annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)23% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 90°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 55°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21.0°F above U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 53.6 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals62% above U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 246As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals8% below U.S. avgU.S. 268
Population trend
Clearwater grew 7.1% from 109,052 in 2010 to 116,811 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Clearwater expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Clearwater's housing cost index is 111 versus 100 nationally — near the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($326,100 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,539 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 111 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $326,100 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,539 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Clearwater?
Typical ownership costs center near $326,100, while median gross rent is about $1,539 a month. Against a median household income of $64,440, rent alone is roughly 29% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $326,100
- Median rent $1,539/month
- Median household income $64,440
What is the job market like in Clearwater?
County unemployment recently ran 4.4% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Clearwater is about $64,440 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.4% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $64,440
How long is the typical commute in Clearwater?
Average one-way commute time is about 24 minutes, with Walk Score near 40/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 24 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 40/100
Is Clearwater safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 399.3 per 100k and property about 2392.3 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 586.6 and 3087.9. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 399.3 per 100k
- Property 2392.3 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Clearwater?
Normals show summer highs near 90°F, winter lows near 55°F, about 53.6 inches of rain, and roughly 246 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 90°F
- Winter low 55°F
- 53.6 in rain · 246 sunny days
Clearwater (pop. 116,811) sits in Florida. Households here report a median income near $64,440; our housing-derived cost index is about 111 (close to the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $326,100 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Subtropical summers, hurricane planning, and no state income tax loom large. With about 53.6 inches of rain a year, wet-season drainage and mold checks are worth asking about. Commutes average near 24 minutes one-way, with walkability near 40/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 4.4% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates around 399.3 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Clearwater is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI Crime Data Explorer, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Clearwater with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Clearwater city, 1600000US1212875) — As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Pinellas County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00012873 ST PETERSBURG INTL AP) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10