Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($213,200 vs $351,400)
64% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
Rent averages $273/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,392)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Cons
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $8,640/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $8,640 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
64% lower
410.0 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$138k less
$213,200 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$8,640
$71,328 vs $62,688/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 12 and Nashville-Davidson wins 10. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $351,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 41 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.