Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($213,200 vs $327,700)
15% less violent crime than Mesa
Rent averages $233/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,352)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 106°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $11,078/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.7%)
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $11,078 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
15% lower
410.0 vs 482.7 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$115k less
$213,200 vs $327,700
Mesa
Median Income
$11,078
$73,766 vs $62,688/yr
Mesa
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 89.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,352⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 8 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $327,700 median home), income ($62,688 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Mesa, AZ are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.