Clearwater FL vs Sparks NV — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Clearwater, FL

Florida · Population: 117,075

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

Sparks, NV

Nevada · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$530,668
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Clearwater
117,075
Sparks
N/A
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Clearwater
N/A
Sparks
N/A
Median Age
Clearwater
46.4
Sparks
N/A
Foreign Born
Clearwater
17.0%
Sparks
N/A
White
Clearwater
70.3%
Sparks
N/A
Black
Clearwater
10.2%
Sparks
N/A
Asian
Clearwater
3.6%
Sparks
N/A
Hispanic
Clearwater
17.1%
Sparks
N/A
Spanish at Home
Clearwater
N/A
Sparks
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Clearwater
$64,440
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Income
Clearwater
$42,934
Sparks
N/A
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Clearwater
$65,328
Clearwater +
Sparks
$62,696
Unemployment Rate
Clearwater
4.7%
Sparks
N/A
Poverty Rate
Clearwater
15.4%
Sparks
N/A
Bachelor's Degree+
Clearwater
32.5%
Sparks
N/A

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Clearwater
$341,503
Clearwater +
Sparks
$530,668
Homeownership Rate
Clearwater
59.1%
Sparks
N/A

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Clearwater
324
Clearwater +
Sparks
460
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Clearwater
1453
Clearwater +
Sparks
2417

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Clearwater
33.3%
Sparks
28.6%
Sparks +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Clearwater
13.5%
Sparks
9.8%
Sparks +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Clearwater
16.8%
Clearwater +
Sparks
18.1%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Clearwater
14.7%
Sparks
13.8%
Sparks +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Clearwater
15.6%
Clearwater +
Sparks
18.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Clearwater
14.0%
Sparks
12.9%
Sparks +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Clearwater
73.8°F
Sparks
52.4°F
Sparks +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Clearwater
54.7 in
Sparks
8.3 in
Sparks +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Clearwater
25.3 min
Sparks
N/A

Which City is Right for You?

Clearwater offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $341,503. On public safety, Clearwater is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 460 in Sparks. Sparks has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 5.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sparks scores better with a lower obesity rate of 28.6%.

Compare More Cities

About Clearwater & Sparks