Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Elizabeth, NJ
🏆 Clarksville leads 17 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Elizabeth
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $145k less ($213,200 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,390)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
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 40°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Clarksville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Income
$2,749
$62,688 vs $59,939/yr
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$145k less
$213,200 vs $358,400
Clarksville
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 86.9°F
Elizabeth
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Elizabeth, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $358,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,390⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $59,939 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 4.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 14.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 74.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Elizabeth Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 31.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 135,665 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 25.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 25.4% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Elizabeth's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 17 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 17 and Elizabeth wins 5. 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 Elizabeth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $358,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $59,939), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Elizabeth, NJ are about 763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.