Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Mobile leads 12 of 21 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Mobile
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
45% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $14,164 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Mobile
Mobile, AL
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($158,400 vs $213,200)
Rent averages $134/mo less ($985 vs $1,119)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Clarksville
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clarksville by $14,164/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Median Income
$14,164
$62,688 vs $48,524/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
45% lower
410.0 vs 752.0 per 100k
Mobile
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.4 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Mobile
Median Home Value
$55k less
$158,400 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 89.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $985 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 62.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 186,316 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Mobile is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Mobile leads 12 of 21 categories. Clarksville wins 9 and Mobile wins 12. 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 Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $158,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Mobile, AL are about 410 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.