Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Households earn $19,836 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (6.5%)
More college-educated — 28.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 39°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($96,900 vs $213,200)
18% less violent crime than Clarksville
Rent averages $177/mo less ($942 vs $1,119)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Clarksville by $19,836/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Median Income
$19,836
$62,688 vs $42,852/yr
Clarksville
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
6.5% vs 11.3% unemployment
Clarksville
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Violent Crime
18% lower
337.2 vs 410.0 per 100k
Reading
Median Home Value
$116k less
$96,900 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 49.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 31.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clarksville wins 11 and Reading wins 11. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $96,900 median home), income ($62,688 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Reading, PA are about 670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.