Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Clarksville, TN
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 22 categories
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
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.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $70,171 more per year on average
84% less violent crime than Clarksville
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (2.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $213k less ($213,200 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $380/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,499)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $70,171/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$70,171
$132,859 vs $62,688/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
84% lower
66.0 vs 410.0 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
2.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.6 on the COL index
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$213k less
$213,200 vs $425,900
Clarksville
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 84.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Clarksville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $213,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $1,119 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $62,688 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 94.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 167,882 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 56.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Clarksville's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 22 categories. Carmel 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 Carmel to Clarksville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $213,200 median home), income ($132,859 vs $62,688), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Clarksville, TN are about 244 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.