Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Sterling Heights, MI
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Clarksville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Sterling Heights
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$75,381 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
133,744
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $30k less ($213,200 vs $243,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Rent averages $96/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,215)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sterling Heights
Cons
Median income trails Sterling Heights by $12,693/yr
Sterling Heights, MI
Pros
44% less violent crime than Clarksville
Violent crime is well below the national average (229.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $12,693 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 90°F
Cons
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 Home Value
$30k less
$213,200 vs $243,400
Clarksville
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.9°F vs 82.2°F
Sterling Heights
Median Income
$12,693
$75,381 vs $62,688/yr
Sterling Heights
Violent Crime
44% lower
229.2 vs 410.0 per 100k
Sterling Heights
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Sterling Heights, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $243,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,215 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $75,381 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 50 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.9% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Utica Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" | 34.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 32.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 133,744 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% | 76.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Sterling Heights'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 Sterling Heights 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 Sterling Heights or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $243,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $75,381), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Sterling Heights, MI are about 475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.