Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Dayton, OH
🏆 Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Dayton
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
69% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $21,245 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 28.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Dayton
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($86,200 vs $213,200)
Rent averages $289/mo less ($830 vs $1,119)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Clarksville
Cons
Median income trails Clarksville by $21,245/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Median Income
$21,245
$62,688 vs $41,443/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
69% lower
410.0 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Clarksville
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
6.5% vs 10.0% unemployment
Clarksville
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 86.7°F
Dayton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$127k less
$86,200 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Dayton, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $86,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $830 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $41,443 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 352⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 19.6% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Dayton City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 36.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 41.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 12.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 137,305 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 48.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 20.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Dayton's 92.3 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 14 and Dayton 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 Clarksville to Dayton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $86,200 median home), income ($62,688 vs $41,443), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Dayton, OH are about 280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.