Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Durham, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $103k less ($213,200 vs $316,600)
34% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,296)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $12,022/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.3%)
Durham, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,022 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
34% lower
410.0 vs 619.2 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$103k less
$213,200 vs $316,600
Durham
Median Income
$12,022
$74,710 vs $62,688/yr
Durham
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Durham, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,296 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $74,710 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 17.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 170⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 181⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Durham Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 5.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 284,094 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 52.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 20.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Durham's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clarksville wins 11 and Durham 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 Clarksville to Durham or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $316,600 median home), income ($62,688 vs $74,710), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Durham, NC are about 472 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.