Clearwater 58 Below average
Clearwater Livability #259 ranked city in South Carolina#20,948 ranked city in the USARanks better than 28% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Clearwater

PROS
  • Cost Of Living 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.

  • Housing 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.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

  • Employment Employment

    A low score in the employment category could indicate that this area struggles with high unemployment rates and low household income and income per capita levels.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Poor air quality and the inaccessibility of certain health related facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors and pharmacies could have all contributed to the low score in this category.

  • Schools Schools

    Lower than average education levels, poor reading and math scores, as well as the inaccessibility of local elementary and high schools could all be factors in the low schools score.

What's it like Living in Clearwater?

Clearwater is a small-sized city located in the state of South Carolina. The city has a population of 4,174 residents. 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.

Are you trying to decide if living in Clearwater is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before moving to any new city in South Carolina, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, commute, education, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Clearwater and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Clearwater to South Carolina and the national average.

Clearwater has a livability score of 57/100 and is ranked #253 in South Carolina and #21,171 in the USA. This is not a favorable rating; as this score ranks among some of the lowest in America. Living in Clearwater may not be a pleasant experience. If we consider each of the categories on their own, we see that Clearwater ranks well for housing (A+). Unfortunately for Clearwater, there are some categories for which it does not rank well, this includes: amenities (F), education (D-) and employment (F).

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Clearwater has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Clearwater meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Clearwater. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Clearwater are simply unattainable. The median home price for Clearwater homes is $231,986, which is 10.8% lower than the South Carolina 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 3.7, which is 2.6% lower than the South Carolina average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Clearwater

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Clearwater?

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Compare Clearwater, SC Livability

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      Clearwater transportation information

      Statistic Clearwater South Carolina National
      Average one way commute23min24min26min
      Workers who drive to work86.0%82.8%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.9%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%0.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.3%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.9%2.2%2.8%
      Working from home2.2%3.6%4.6%
      Source: The Clearwater, SC data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.