Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
55% less violent crime than Springfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($147,700 vs $213,200)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($913 vs $1,119)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Clarksville
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Violent Crime
55% lower
410.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Clarksville
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$66k less
$147,700 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clarksville wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($62,688 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Springfield, IL are about 255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.