Clarksville TN vs Rochester NY — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Clarksville, TN

Tennessee · Population: 171,897

  • Median HH Income$66,786
  • Median Home Price$320,241
  • Unemployment6.0%
  • Bachelor's+30.6%

Rochester, NY

New York · Population: 209,720

  • Median HH Income$46,628
  • Median Home Price$241,627
  • Unemployment7.9%
  • Bachelor's+29.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Clarksville
171,897
Rochester
209,720
Rochester +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Clarksville
N/A
Rochester
N/A
Median Age
Clarksville
30.4
Clarksville +
Rochester
33.5
Foreign Born
Clarksville
6.8%
Rochester
8.3%
Rochester +
White
Clarksville
59.4%
Clarksville +
Rochester
41.5%
Black
Clarksville
23.0%
Rochester
37.5%
Rochester +
Asian
Clarksville
2.5%
Rochester
3.2%
Rochester +
Hispanic
Clarksville
12.5%
Rochester
20.0%
Rochester +
Spanish at Home
Clarksville
N/A
Rochester
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Clarksville
$66,786
Clarksville +
Rochester
$46,628
Per Capita Income
Clarksville
$31,266
Clarksville +
Rochester
$30,451
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Clarksville
$59,097
Rochester
$77,425
Rochester +
Unemployment Rate
Clarksville
6.0%
Clarksville +
Rochester
7.9%
Poverty Rate
Clarksville
12.8%
Clarksville +
Rochester
26.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Clarksville
30.6%
Clarksville +
Rochester
29.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Clarksville
$320,241
Rochester
$241,627
Rochester +
Homeownership Rate
Clarksville
56.6%
Clarksville +
Rochester
37.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Clarksville
639
Rochester
434
Rochester +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Clarksville
2350
Rochester
1736
Rochester +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Clarksville
39.3%
Rochester
38.0%
Rochester +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Clarksville
11.0%
Clarksville +
Rochester
14.3%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Clarksville
21.4%
Rochester
18.8%
Rochester +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Clarksville
12.4%
Rochester
10.9%
Rochester +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Clarksville
16.5%
Rochester
16.3%
Rochester +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Clarksville
16.2%
Clarksville +
Rochester
16.6%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Clarksville
59.2°F
Rochester
48.2°F
Rochester +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Clarksville
51.0 in
Rochester
34.3 in
Rochester +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Clarksville
8.9 µg/m³
Rochester
8.1 µg/m³
Rochester +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Clarksville
75.0%
Rochester
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Clarksville
28.2 min
Rochester
20.6 min
Rochester +

Which City is Right for You?

Clarksville leads in median household income at $66,786, while rochester offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $241,627. On public safety, Rochester is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 639 in Clarksville. Clarksville has a lower unemployment rate at 6.0%, and Rochester has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Rochester scores better with a lower obesity rate of 38.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Clarksville & Rochester