Clearwater vs West Palm Beach: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Clearwater, FL and West Palm Beach, FL, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 116,984 | 117,588 |
| Median household income | $59,358 | $64,044 |
| Median home value | $287,900 | $324,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $1,389 | $1,614 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Clearwater, FL and West Palm Beach, FL comes down to what you value most. Clearwater has the lower median home value, and Clearwater has the lower median rent.
West Palm Beach has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Clearwater or West Palm Beach?
- By median home value, Clearwater is the cheaper of the two ($287,900 vs $324,800). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Clearwater or West Palm Beach?
- Median household income is $59,358 in Clearwater versus $64,044 in West Palm Beach, per the US Census Bureau.