Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $184k less ($213,200 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $506/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,625)
26% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.5%)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $15,726/yr
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,726 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Violent Crime
26% lower
410.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$184k less
$213,200 vs $397,500
Clarksville
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$15,726
$78,414 vs $62,688/yr
Palmdale
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 12 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 12 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $397,500 median home), income ($62,688 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Palmdale, CA are about 1,727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.