Clarksville vs Knoxville
Compare Clarksville, TN and Knoxville, TN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,064/mo in Clarksville and $1,012/mo in Knoxville, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,246/mo and $1,221/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (221 vs 221 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 91°F and 88°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Knoxville; if walkable daily life matters more, Knoxville screens stronger on the walkability proxy (10 vs 7). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Knoxville leads 39 to 34 on the daily life screen.
Clarksville leads 39 to 31 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Clarksville is roughly $68,000 in Knoxville using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Clarksville | Knoxville | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,064/mo | $1,012/mo | Knoxville |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,246/mo | $1,221/mo | Knoxville |
| Median home value | $208,000 | $231,000 | Clarksville |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 26 min | Knoxville |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 22/100 | Clarksville |
| School score | 3/10 | 5/10 | Knoxville |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 10/100 | Knoxville |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 165.3 | 170.9 | Knoxville |
| Mountain distance | 38 mi | 11 mi | Knoxville |
| Coast distance | 403 mi | 297 mi | Knoxville |
What stands out
Clarksville stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 30 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 148 miles
Clarksville tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Knoxville stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 34 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 29 miles
Knoxville tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Clarksville cheaper than Knoxville?
On public benchmarks Knoxville is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,064/mo in Clarksville vs $1,012/mo in Knoxville; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,246/mo vs $1,221/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Clarksville or Knoxville safer?
Clarksville screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Clarksville and 22/100 for Knoxville (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Clarksville or Knoxville?
School screens show 3/10 for Clarksville vs 5/10 for Knoxville, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Clarksville and Knoxville?
Clarksville: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Knoxville: 88°F / 28°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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