Aurora IL vs Clearwater FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Aurora, IL

Illinois · Population: 24,510

  • Median HH Income$62,462
  • Median Home Price$320,635
  • Unemployment7.1%
  • Bachelor's+13.2%

Clearwater, FL

Florida · Population: 117,075

  • Median HH Income$64,440
  • Median Home Price$341,503
  • Unemployment4.7%
  • Bachelor's+32.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Aurora
24,510
Clearwater
117,075
Clearwater +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Aurora
N/A
Clearwater
N/A
Median Age
Aurora
39.7
Aurora +
Clearwater
46.4
Foreign Born
Aurora
14.1%
Clearwater
17.0%
Clearwater +
White
Aurora
63.2%
Clearwater
70.3%
Clearwater +
Black
Aurora
2.6%
Clearwater
10.2%
Clearwater +
Asian
Aurora
1.5%
Clearwater
3.6%
Clearwater +
Hispanic
Aurora
37.1%
Aurora +
Clearwater
17.1%
Spanish at Home
Aurora
N/A
Clearwater
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Aurora
$62,462
Clearwater
$64,440
Clearwater +
Per Capita Income
Aurora
$32,181
Clearwater
$42,934
Clearwater +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Aurora
$68,110
Aurora +
Clearwater
$65,328
Unemployment Rate
Aurora
7.1%
Clearwater
4.7%
Clearwater +
Poverty Rate
Aurora
15.5%
Clearwater
15.4%
Clearwater +
Bachelor's Degree+
Aurora
13.2%
Clearwater
32.5%
Clearwater +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Aurora
$320,635
Aurora +
Clearwater
$341,503
Homeownership Rate
Aurora
73.6%
Aurora +
Clearwater
59.1%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Aurora
344
Clearwater
324
Clearwater +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Aurora
1842
Clearwater
1453
Clearwater +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Aurora
35.9%
Clearwater
33.3%
Clearwater +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Aurora
11.4%
Aurora +
Clearwater
13.5%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Aurora
15.9%
Aurora +
Clearwater
16.8%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Aurora
15.2%
Clearwater
14.7%
Clearwater +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Aurora
17.5%
Clearwater
15.6%
Clearwater +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Aurora
11.7%
Aurora +
Clearwater
14.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Aurora
50.2°F
Aurora +
Clearwater
73.8°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Aurora
37.7 in
Aurora +
Clearwater
54.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Aurora
9.4 µg/m³
Clearwater
7.2 µg/m³
Clearwater +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Aurora
55.0%
Clearwater
75.0%
Clearwater +

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Aurora
26.6 min
Clearwater
25.3 min
Clearwater +

Which City is Right for You?

Clearwater leads in median household income at $64,440, while aurora offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $320,635. On public safety, Clearwater is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Aurora. Clearwater has a lower unemployment rate at 4.7%, and Clearwater has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Clearwater scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Aurora & Clearwater