Clearwater, Florida, known as "The Sparkling City," is a beautiful coastal community located on the Gulf of Mexico. With its pristine beaches, vibrant arts scene, and thriving economy, Clearwater offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of natural beauty and modern amenities makes living in Clearwater an attractive option for families, professionals, and retirees alike.
Residents of Clearwater enjoy a variety of recreational activities and cultural events. The city's numerous parks, beaches, and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Clearwater Beach, consistently ranked among the best beaches in the United States, is a popular destination for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, home to Winter the dolphin, is another popular attraction.
Clearwater's cultural scene is enriched by its diverse population and vibrant arts community. The Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Capitol Theatre, and the Clearwater Jazz Holiday are cultural highlights that offer residents access to visual and performing arts. The city's annual Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival and Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival celebrate Clearwater's rich heritage and community spirit.
The cost of living in Clearwater is relatively affordable compared to other coastal cities, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals. The housing market includes a variety of options, from beachfront condos to single-family homes in charming neighborhoods. The city's strong economy is supported by industries such as tourism, healthcare, and technology, providing ample job opportunities for residents.
Public transportation in Clearwater is well-developed, with access to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) buses, facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. Clearwater's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, Clearwater offers a blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.
Commute
High commute scores indicates that public transit should be easily accessible in this area and the average commute time to work is less than average.
Cost Of Living
The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.
Crime
With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.
Housing
This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.
Nothing Found
No cons were found for this area, as there were no categories that scored well below average.
Clearwater, Florida is a mid-sized city with a population of 120,302 inhabitants. With a population density of 4,638 people per square mile, Clearwater is well above the nation's average density level. If we look at the most recent Census, Clearwater is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Clearwater, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 23 minutes.
Whether you’re moving to a new town to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Clearwater could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Florida if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Finding the best places to live in Clearwater and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, commute, education, housing and other important metrics.
With a livability score of 81 out of 100, Clearwater is ranked #1,121 in the United States and #80 in Florida. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Clearwater could be a great choice! Clearwater also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Clearwater has higher than average scores for the following: amenities (B), cost of living (A) and housing (A+).
The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Clearwater, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Clearwater undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Some of the interesting things to do and attractions include: Clearwater Beach, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and Pier 60.
Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Clearwater market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Clearwater is actually affordable. The median home price for Clearwater homes is $414,647, which is 38.4% higher than the Florida average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Clearwater, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 5.6, which is 33.3% higher than the Florida average.
Why stop at city-to-city? With Local Insights, you can compare neighborhoods, zip codes, or even exact addresses. Access 300+ hyperlocal data points—from schools and crime to housing and amenities—to see which area is the better fit.
| Statistic | Clearwater | Florida | National |
| Average one way commute | 23min | 27min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 71.9% | 79.5% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.2% | 9.3% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 3.2% | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 10.6% | 5.4% | 4.6% |
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