City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

Clearwater, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Clearwater - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

117,075
Residents
$64,440
Median income
$326,100
Median home
$1,977
Median rent (state)

Clearwater - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Clearwater places in the 42nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

42nd
percentile, household income
69th
percentile, home value
83rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Clearwater, FL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 117,075 residents in Clearwater, a mid-sized U.S. city within Florida. Clearwater households earn a median of $64,440 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.2%. Clearwater's housing stock carries a median value of $326,100, and the median resident age is 46.4 years. About 32.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.1% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 159 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Rapid Growth), up 27% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Florida scores 103.4 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,977 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Florida run around $225, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 98.2 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very High).

Population

117,075 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$64,440 /yr

Poverty 9.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does Clearwater compare to other US cities?

Here's how Clearwater stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 42% higher than other cities
Home value 69% pricier than other cities
Median rent 83% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Clearwater against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Florida only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Florida-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent sits close to the middle of Florida's city distribution

Among the 930 Florida cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Clearwater ranks #185 - the 68th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Clearwater only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#524 of 903
42nd percentile in Florida
Median Gross Rent
#185 of 930
68th percentile in Florida
Median Home Value
#377 of 894
58th percentile in Florida
Poverty Rate
#390 of 930
58th percentile in Florida
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#373 of 930
60th percentile in Florida

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Florida only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

42ndIncome percentile

42nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Clearwater's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$326,100 31st percentile more affordable than 31% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Clearwater $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Clearwater, FL Clearwater, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Clearwater, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Clearwater, FL median $64,440/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Clearwater, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Clearwater, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.1%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
117,075
Median Income
$64,440
Median Home Value
$326,100
Median Age
46.4
Poverty Rate
9.2%
Labor force participation
56.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.5%

Schools

Total Schools
28
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
114,000 residents115,000 residents116,000 residents117,000 residents118,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 117,250 residents 114,364 residents ▼ -2.5%
Clearwater's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Rapid Growth
Total Permits (2024)
159
housing units authorized
Single-Family
78
detached homes
Multifamily
81
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 125
2020 122
2021 125
2022 295
2023 50
2024 159

Permit volume increased 27% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
64.5%
Carpool
8.0%
Public Transit
2.8%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
19.9%
Other
3.2%

Based on 54,365 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Clearwater sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,977/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Lakeland
117,030 people
Brandon
116,365 people
Spring Hill
118,814 people
West Palm Beach
119,508 people
Pompano Beach
112,212 people
Miami Gardens
111,264 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Clearwater's 117,075 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

The Woodlands, TX
116,916 people
North Charleston, SC
117,460 people
Evansville, IN
116,441 people
Cambridge, MA
117,794 people
West Jordan, UT
116,277 people
Broken Arrow, OK
115,919 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Clearwater's $64,440 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Chestertown, NY
$64,438 median income
Darrington, WA
$64,438 median income
Fertile, MN
$64,444 median income
Paradise, TX
$64,444 median income
Havelock, NC
$64,433 median income
Fertile, IA
$64,432 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Clearwater, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Clearwater, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.3% 10.2% 6.0% 9.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.1% White 70.3% Black or African American 10.2% Asian 3.6% American Indian 0.6% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 6.0% Two or more races 9.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Clearwater compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Clearwater (this city) 117,075 $64,440
Lakeland 117,030 $60,947
Brandon 116,365 $77,068
Spring Hill 118,814 $66,557
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Clearwater, FL?

What is the population of Clearwater, FL? +

117,075 people live in Clearwater, FL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Clearwater, FL? +

In Clearwater, the typical household earns $64,440 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Clearwater? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Clearwater; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Clearwater, FL? +

A typical home in Clearwater is worth $326,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.