Clearwater, FL
If you've been searching for a bright and beautiful place to live, the city of Clearwater, Florida offers abundant sunshine and recreation opportunities. As part of the densely populated Pinellas County, Clearwater is home to more than 100,000 residents. An immensely popular tourist destination, Clearwater Beach has been named the number 1 beach destination and has won numerous other accolades.
Since Clearwater features an average of 240 sunny days per year, city life is focused on the great outdoors. Along with the tourist-heavy Clearwater Beach, locals enjoy visiting Sand Key Park and other beaches that sit along the Gulf of Mexico. These beaches are known for calm waters and soft, sugar sand, making them the perfect choice for families.
Life in Clearwater is centered around the beach, and the city offers numerous festivals and special events. Coachman Park is a popular outdoor concert venue, or you can see top artists and performers at the award-winning Ruth Eckerd Hall. The Sunsets at Pier 60 nightly festival brings vendors, entertainers, and more to the beach, while the annual Sugar Sand Festival features unbelievable sand carvings, concerts, and more.
Staying active is easy in Clearwater thanks to the city's strong investments in Parks and Recreation. Participate in a class or hit the gym at one of the city's six recreation centers, or visit the numerous tennis courts, golf courses, baseball fields, and other outdoor locations to get fit in the sun.
Public transit in Clearwater is not yet highly developed. The area offers bus transportation through the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, and additional options are offered in tourist hot spots through the practical and whimsical Jolley Trolley service, featuring San Francisco-style open trolley cars.
From fine dining to casual surfside eats, delicious cuisine abounds in Clearwater. Fresh seafood is delivered to local restaurants each morning. You have to try a local favorite: the blackened grouper sandwich. You can even make your own catch of the day if you love to fish! Thanks to the city's strong Hispanic heritage, flavorful Mexican and Cuban options also abound.
Although the median salary in Clearwater is below the national average, residents enjoy a reasonable cost of living and housing that is lower than the national median. Thanks to the city's tropical climate and the necessity of air conditioning, utility costs are higher than many other areas of the country. Clearwater residents benefit at tax time since Florida has no state income tax.
About half of Clearwater residents choose to rent instead of owning their homes. The strong demand for rental properties has driven up prices, and Clearwater's rent costs are above the national average. However, that is a price that renters are willing to pay for being able to live in an area where so many people choose to vacation!