Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Joliet, IL
🏆 Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Homes cost $21k less ($213,200 vs $233,800)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
More college-educated — 28.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $22,283/yr
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $22,283 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Clarksville
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Clarksville
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$21k less
$213,200 vs $233,800
Clarksville
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 83.6°F
Joliet
Median Income
$22,283
$84,971 vs $62,688/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
15% lower
350.0 vs 410.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Joliet, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 102.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $233,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $84,971 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 24.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 84.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Joliet PSD 86 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 40.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 16.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 150,221 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 72.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 26.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Joliet's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 12 and Joliet 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 Joliet or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $233,800 median home), income ($62,688 vs $84,971), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Joliet, IL are about 345 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.