Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Clarksville, TN
🏆 Bend leads 14 of 22 categories
Bend
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Clarksville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bend, OR
Pros
59% less violent crime than Clarksville
Households earn $19,983 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Clarksville
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($213,200 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $530/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,649)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $19,983/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$19,983
$82,671 vs $62,688/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
59% lower
168.5 vs 410.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Clarksville
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$364k less
$213,200 vs $576,900
Clarksville
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Clarksville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $213,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,119 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $62,688 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 167,882 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 56.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Clarksville's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bend leads 14 of 22 categories. Bend wins 14 and Clarksville wins 8. 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 Bend to Clarksville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $213,200 median home), income ($82,671 vs $62,688), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Clarksville, TN are about 1,848 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.