Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Clarksville, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boulder
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
21% less violent crime than Clarksville
Households earn $17,555 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Clarksville
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $707k less ($213,200 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $734/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,853)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $17,555/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$17,555
$80,243 vs $62,688/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
21% lower
322.3 vs 410.0 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Clarksville
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$707k less
$213,200 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Clarksville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $213,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,119 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $62,688 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 167,882 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 30.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 56.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Clarksville's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boulder 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 Boulder to Clarksville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $213,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $62,688), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Clarksville, TN are about 998 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.