Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Pasadena, 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
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $768k less ($213,200 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $981/mo less ($1,119 vs $2,100)
15% less violent crime than Pasadena
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $35,130/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.2%)
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,130 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) 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
15% lower
410.0 vs 480.4 per 100k
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$768k less
$213,200 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$35,130
$97,818 vs $62,688/yr
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Pasadena'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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $981,600 median home), income ($62,688 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Pasadena, CA are about 1,736 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.