Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Clarksville, TN
🏆 Chattanooga leads 11 of 21 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Clarksville
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Clarksville by $4,985/yr
Clarksville, TN
Pros
50% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Households earn $4,985 more per year on average
Homes cost $17k less ($213,200 vs $230,500)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Clarksville
Median Income
$4,985
$62,688 vs $57,703/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
50% lower
410.0 vs 823.7 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$17k less
$213,200 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Clarksville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 94.3 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $213,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,119 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $62,688 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 25.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 46.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 53.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 167,882 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 56.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Clarksville's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 11 of 21 categories. Chattanooga wins 11 and Clarksville wins 10. 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 Chattanooga to Clarksville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $213,200 median home), income ($57,703 vs $62,688), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Clarksville, TN are about 157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.