Clarksville vs Memphis
Compare Clarksville, TN and Memphis, 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 $1,091/mo in Memphis, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,246/mo and $1,298/mo. Across the four public-data screens Memphis comes out ahead (240 vs 221 summed points), though Clarksville still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 91°F and 90°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Clarksville; if walkable daily life matters more, Memphis 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.
Memphis leads 40 to 34 on the daily life screen.
Memphis leads 51 to 39 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Clarksville is roughly $85,000 in Memphis using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Clarksville | Memphis | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,064/mo | $1,091/mo | Clarksville |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,246/mo | $1,298/mo | Clarksville |
| Median home value | $208,000 | $208,000 | Tie |
| State income tax | None | None | Tie |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 26.2 min | Memphis |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 33/100 | Memphis |
| School score | 3/10 | 5/10 | Memphis |
| Walkability estimate | 7/100 | 10/100 | Memphis |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 165.3 | 166.9 | Memphis |
| Mountain distance | 38 mi | 8 mi | Memphis |
| Coast distance | 403 mi | 328 mi | Memphis |
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
Memphis stronger signals
- No state income tax
- Trail access within 49 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 127 miles
Memphis tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Clarksville cheaper than Memphis?
On public benchmarks Clarksville is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,064/mo in Clarksville vs $1,091/mo in Memphis; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,246/mo vs $1,298/mo; state income tax is 0% vs 0%.
Is Clarksville or Memphis safer?
Memphis screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Clarksville and 33/100 for Memphis (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Clarksville or Memphis?
School screens show 3/10 for Clarksville vs 5/10 for Memphis, 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 Memphis?
Clarksville: summer highs near 91°F, winter lows near 29°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Memphis: 90°F / 29°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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