Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Clarksville leads 16 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $150k less ($213,200 vs $362,800)
23% less violent crime than Lowell
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,466)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Lowell by $10,320/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.7%)
Lowell, MA
Pros
Households earn $10,320 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
23% lower
410.0 vs 532.5 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$150k less
$213,200 vs $362,800
Clarksville
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$10,320
$73,008 vs $62,688/yr
Lowell
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 16 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 16 and Lowell wins 6. 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $362,800 median home), income ($62,688 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Lowell, MA are about 949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.