How is life in CLEARWATER, FL? (Tampa, Palm Harbor: apartment, for rent, condo) - Tampa Bay - Florida -Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater - City-Data Forum

Tiger Beer · 12-15-2008, 08:59 PM

How is life in Clearwater, Florida?

I'm not that much into Sports, but sounds like Tampa has that midwestern/southern fascination in all things sports? True? Is SPORTS a popular topic of conversation for strangers much like it is in the Midwest and South, or do they often have other interests as well?

Is FISHING one of the big pasttimes? Or is it BEACH activities - swimming, socializing or a beach scene? Which one seems to be a higher priority for the people or Clearwater? For Tampa Bay?

How about being a working adult and living in Clearwater? One would end up having to drive through a lot of traffic all of the time? Clearwater seems a bit isolated in some ways from the rest of the city, for better or for worse, but perhaps a bit worse for the employment-minded.

What would be some defining characters of people attracted to Clearwater over Tampa? How about St.Petersburg? How is it different from the previous two?

phonelady61 · 12-20-2008, 07:57 AM

I would have to say forget about clearwater . the rents are much too high and unemployment is high they are expecting it to go higher next year to the tune of 8 % and we got out while we could . we now live in ky and we are much much happier here. Not alot of snooty ppl at all and for the most part everyone is nice . some ppl think florida is the bomb , I disagree . I mean if you think 1200.00 a month is okay to pay for rent then by all means move there . to me 1200.00 is a house payment not rent . I used to pay 913 for a 700 sq ft apt and to me that was high . I now have a house in ky for 700.00 a month and it is 3 bdr 2 ba . i mean florida has just outpriced itself by many ppls standards . Including mine.

duttygal86 · 01-04-2009, 04:24 PM

So True. I wouldnt suggest Clearwater for a variety of reasons. I live there now and am quietly planning my escape! The rent is absurd, like the previous poster said. Its such a transiet town as well!

RockerRyan · 01-04-2009, 11:49 PM

I'm in New Jersey now and also looking into Clearwater. A lot of people I talk say they love it down there. During my apartment search, I found mynewplace.com. There's a bunch starting at $650 a month. A majority of them are in the $800 range.

Does anyone else have any info on life in Clearwater?

Chicken Wing · 01-05-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockerRyan

I'm in New Jersey now and also looking into Clearwater. A lot of people I talk say they love it down there. During my apartment search, I found mynewplace.com. There's a bunch starting at $650 a month. A majority of them are in the $800 range.

Does anyone else have any info on life in Clearwater?

I'm in NJ too and my g/f and I have been thinking about doing down there too. Maybe Dunedin or Palm Harbor area.

Rent.com has a few 1 BR apts that are just under $700/month that look nice.

ckeithp1 · 01-05-2009, 12:51 PM

Please don't be discouraged by those that paint such a gloomy picture. I lived in Clearwater in 04/05 and kick myself daily that I bit on a job that brought me back to TN. We paid $1250 per month for a 3 bdr townhouse/1-car garage/community pool/next to a golf course/streets made from pavers. Very nice. But that's what I was looking for, something to ease the pain of moving my wife and kids 700 miles away from "home". We could have lived somewhere else, but that's what we chose. We did without other things to live there, but it was worth it. As far it being a transient town, I'll agree to a point. But for us, that made us feel more welcome knowing we weren't sticking out like a sore thumb. Considering the beaches and fishing, we went to the Clearwater beach nearly every week, it was a very festive atmosphere. We also saw lots of folks fishing off of the causeways with each pass across them.

Yes it does cost more to live there than say the mid-south, but it's a trade-off. Sitting here looking at what feels like the 100th day in a row of a gray sky, chilly and a misting rain (heaven forbid it would get cold enough to actually snow), I'll have to say that if given the chance, I'd pay whatever was in my ability to be back there.

JAy the BRIT · 08-24-2010, 07:10 PM

I am moving to clearwater in 4 weeks and amidst all the pros and cons , I have to make my own mind up, been to clearwater before and loved it, difference for me is Im moving my wife and kids half way across the world for me to take my dream job. I am from England so sunshine is, as you would probably guess as rare as rocking horse ****. Just have the dilema over choosing the right high schools and elementary schools for my boys. Happy to spend $1500 a month for a place by the beach or waterfront until I get a mortgage. Then i will defo buy ( buyers market right now and I am never going back to the UK.

marcopolo · 08-24-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAy the BRIT

I am moving to clearwater in 4 weeks and amidst all the pros and cons , I have to make my own mind up, been to clearwater before and loved it, difference for me is Im moving my wife and kids half way across the world for me to take my dream job. I am from England so sunshine is, as you would probably guess as rare as rocking horse ****. Just have the dilema over choosing the right high schools and elementary schools for my boys. Happy to spend $1500 a month for a place by the beach or waterfront until I get a mortgage. Then i will defo buy ( buyers market right now and I am never going back to the UK.

Congratulations. You waded through a lot to get to a decision--but there is no substitute for being there.

ghostrider7811 · 08-28-2010, 04:58 PM

Clearwater is a fairly spread out city. Pinellas County's cities have grow together. Urban sprawl. I think North East Clwr is still nice, the Countryside area. Dunedin has nice areas also. Avoid anything south of Dunedin, West Clearwater. The Greenwood area near Downtown is very bad, high crime rate.

Lotus03 · 09-05-2010, 09:58 AM

i was planning on staying away from clearwater because its where scientology has its headquarters where the billion year contract employees live - called the "sea org". I've read and seen a lot of crazy stuff on the news. Not sure how it really is for people who live there though. It was a nice place when I was a kid and my prents had a condo but they sold it many years ago.

Operation Clambake presents: A Paramilitary Cult

Sea Org - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia