Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Downey, CA
🏆 Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Downey
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($213,200 vs $679,000)
Rent averages $695/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,814)
11% less violent crime than Downey
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Downey by $21,548/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.6%)
Downey, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,548 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Higher rents — median is $1,814/mo
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
11% lower
410.0 vs 460.5 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$466k less
$213,200 vs $679,000
Clarksville
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 81.4°F
Downey
Median Income
$21,548
$84,236 vs $62,688/yr
Downey
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Downey, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $679,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,814⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $84,236 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 25.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 80.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Downey Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 113,052 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Downey's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 14 and Downey 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 Downey or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $679,000 median home), income ($62,688 vs $84,236), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Downey, CA are about 1,739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.