Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Clarksville, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Abilene
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (2.8%)
Homes cost $51k less ($161,800 vs $213,200)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 47°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Clarksville
Cons
Median income trails Clarksville by $3,434/yr
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Households earn $3,434 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 2.8%)
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Abilene
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Home Value
$51k less
$161,800 vs $213,200
Abilene
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
2.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.9°F
Clarksville
Median Income
$3,434
$62,688 vs $59,254/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
3% lower
410.0 vs 424.5 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Clarksville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $213,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,119 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 | $62,688 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 28.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 46.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 | 167,882 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.2 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 56.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Clarksville's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Abilene wins 11 and Clarksville wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Clarksville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $213,200 median home), income ($59,254 vs $62,688), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Clarksville, TN are about 760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.