Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Households earn $6,362 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than McAllen
McAllen, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Clarksville
Homes cost $55k less ($158,700 vs $213,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $164/mo less ($955 vs $1,119)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Clarksville by $6,362/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Median Income
$6,362
$62,688 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
63% lower
150.0 vs 410.0 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$55k less
$158,700 vs $213,200
McAllen
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 4 and McAllen wins 18. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $158,700 median home), income ($62,688 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and McAllen, TX are about 960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.