Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($213,200 vs $308,300)
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,227)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Households earn $3,082 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, VA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Clarksville
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Clarksville by $3,082/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Income
$3,082
$62,688 vs $59,606/yr
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$95k less
$213,200 vs $308,300
Richmond
Violent Crime
18% lower
336.9 vs 410.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clarksville wins 11 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $308,300 median home), income ($62,688 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Richmond, VA are about 548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.