Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Clarksville leads 15 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
54% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $15,011 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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 35°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clarksville by $15,011/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Income
$15,011
$62,688 vs $47,677/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
54% lower
410.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Clarksville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Clarksville
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$15k less
$198,500 vs $213,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 15 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 15 and Springfield wins 7. 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 $198,500 median home), income ($62,688 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Springfield, MA are about 878 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.