Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Fayetteville, NC
🏆 Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Fayetteville
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,424
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
208,697 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
38% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.5%)
Households earn $9,264 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fayetteville
Fayetteville, NC
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($158,500 vs $213,200)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 47°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Clarksville
Cons
Violent crime (660.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clarksville by $9,264/yr
Property crime (3094.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Median Income
$9,264
$62,688 vs $53,424/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
38% lower
410.0 vs 660.2 per 100k
Clarksville
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.4% unemployment
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$55k less
$158,500 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Fayetteville, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $158,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $1,117 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $53,424 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 19.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Cumberland County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 54.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 90.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 47.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 1.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 208,697 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 30.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 45.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 23.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Fayetteville's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 12 and Fayetteville 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 Clarksville to Fayetteville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $158,500 median home), income ($62,688 vs $53,424), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Fayetteville, NC are about 480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.