Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano leads 15 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882
Plano
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($213,200 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,699)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $42,991/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.4%)
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,991 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Clarksville
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 47°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$199k less
$213,200 vs $412,500
Plano
Median Income
$42,991
$105,679 vs $62,688/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
63% lower
151.6 vs 410.0 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 56.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Plano leads 15 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 7 and Plano wins 15. 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $412,500 median home), income ($62,688 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Plano, TX are about 586 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.