Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $516k less ($213,200 vs $728,800)
Rent averages $945/mo less ($1,119 vs $2,064)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $36,725/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.2%)
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,725 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Clarksville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Clarksville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$516k less
$213,200 vs $728,800
San Marcos
Median Income
$36,725
$99,413 vs $62,688/yr
San Marcos
Violent Crime
46% lower
222.4 vs 410.0 per 100k
San Marcos
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 31 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Marcos leads 13 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 9 and San Marcos wins 13. 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $728,800 median home), income ($62,688 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and San Marcos, CA are about 1,701 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.