Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Clarksville leads 13 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $281k less ($213,200 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $546/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,665)
48% less violent crime than Lakewood
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $20,098/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $20,098 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
48% lower
410.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$281k less
$213,200 vs $494,100
Clarksville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$20,098
$82,786 vs $62,688/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Lakewood, 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 | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 13 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 13 and Lakewood wins 9. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $494,100 median home), income ($62,688 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Lakewood, CO are about 988 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.