Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
167,882
St. Louis
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
70% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $9,747 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 41°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Louis
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $39k less ($174,100 vs $213,200)
Rent averages $181/mo less ($938 vs $1,119)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Clarksville by $9,747/yr
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Income
$9,747
$62,688 vs $52,941/yr
Clarksville
Violent Crime
70% lower
410.0 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$39k less
$174,100 vs $213,200
St. Louis
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.3 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 11.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Clarksville wins 11 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $174,100 median home), income ($62,688 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and St. Louis, MO are about 214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.