Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
🏆 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Kentucky
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,114 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
629,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
42% less violent crime than Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.3%)
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,119)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.0)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (707.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3326.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Violent Crime
42% lower
410.0 vs 707.4 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 94.3 on the COL index
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 94.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $204,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $63,114 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 10.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Jefferson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 42.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 53.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 15.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 629,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 60.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Louisville/Jefferson County metro government's 94.0 (US average = 100).
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Louisville/Jefferson County metro government leads 13 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 9 and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government wins 13. 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 Louisville/Jefferson County metro government or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $204,800 median home), income ($62,688 vs $63,114), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KY are about 145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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