City Comparison
Clearwater vs Palm Bay
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Palm Bay scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Clearwater
Palm Bay
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Clearwater is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
9% lower than in Palm Bay.
Housing costs are a major driver: Clearwater's average rent is
13% lower than Palm Bay's.
| Metric | Clearwater | Palm Bay | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $2,000 | -13% |
| Groceries | $420 | $420 | 0% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $115 | $125 | -8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $240 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,700 | $2,960 | -9% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Palm Bay offers 6% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Palm Bay delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Clearwater is estimated at
$54,000 vs $58,000 in Palm Bay.
| Metric | Clearwater | Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $63,000 | $67,000 |
| Salary Needed | $54,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 61,765 idx | 67,000 idx |
| Household Income | $65,400 | $72,614 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.59999999999999°F of each other.
For sunshine, Clearwater comes out ahead with 37 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
| Metric | Clearwater | Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 73.40°F | 74.00°F |
| Summer High | 88.90°F | 88.80°F |
| Winter Low | 54.10°F | 57.30°F |
| Rainfall | 42.30 in | 51.20 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
| Sunny Days | 231 | 194 |
| Humidity | 72.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Clearwater has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Palm Bay.
Clearwater scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Clearwater leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Clearwater | Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 42.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Palm Bay is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Clearwater.
From a growth perspective, Palm Bay is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Clearwater has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Clearwater | Palm Bay |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 117,292 | 148,092 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 3.58% |
| Median Age | 44.0 | 41.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.50% | 4.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Clearwater
Advantages
Home to Clearwater Beach, consistently ranked among the top beaches in the United States by TripAdvisor.
Abundant sunshine averaging 231 sunny days per year with warm winters averaging a low of 54.1°F.
World-class healthcare access anchored by Morton Plant Hospital and the extensive BayCare Health System.
No state personal income tax in Florida, providing financial relief for residents and retirees.
Vibrant outdoor lifestyle with extensive opportunities for boating, fishing, and park recreation.
Drawbacks
High homeowners insurance rates and vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes along the coast.
Significant seasonal traffic congestion, particularly along routes leading to Clearwater Beach.
Higher-than-average housing and rental costs driven by strong coastal real estate demand.
High reliance on automobile transportation with limited heavy rail public transit options.
Summer heat and humidity can be intense during peak months from June through September.
Palm Bay
Advantages
Median home values remain accessible at approximately $283,200, offering competitive value compared to other Florida coastal markets.
Proximity to high-tech and aerospace giants like L3Harris and Raytheon provides robust local career paths.
Abundant natural recreation areas, including Turkey Creek Sanctuary and access to the Indian River Lagoon.
Strategic infrastructure enhancements like the St. Johns Heritage Parkway improve local transit connectivity.
Favorable subtropical climate with roughly 194 sunny days per year and mild winter averages.
Drawbacks
High population growth rate has placed upward pressure on local rental and housing inventories.
Car dependency is high, with limited public mass transit options across the sprawling 86-square-mile city footprint.
Summer heat and humidity can be intense, accompanied by high seasonal rainfall during tropical storm months.
Traffic congestion concentrates heavily during peak hours along major arteries like Palm Bay Road and Malabar Road.
Pockets of the city experience vulnerability to localized heavy rainfall and temporary urban flooding.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Clearwater
#350Florida, USA
59.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$63,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
231/yr
Avg Temp
73.40°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.50%
Livability
76
Business
70
Palm Bay
#196Florida, USA
63.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,000
Avg Salary
$67,000
Cost Index
100
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
194/yr
Avg Temp
74.00°F
Pop. Growth
3.58%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
74
Business
72
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