Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($213,200 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1234/mo less ($1,119 vs $2,353)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $85,539/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 3.4%)
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $85,539 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Clarksville
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Clarksville
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$424k less
$213,200 vs $637,400
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$85,539
$148,227 vs $62,688/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
66% lower
138.1 vs 410.0 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 65.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 101,514 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 8 and Highlands Ranch wins 14. 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 Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $637,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.