Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Franklin compared to Clarksville? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Franklin | Metric | Clarksville | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 | Cost of Living Index | 89 | -20.5% |
| $625,000 | Median Home Price | $235,000 | -62.4% |
| $2,000 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,000 | -50.0% |
| $115,200 | Median Household Income | $56,400 | -51.0% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 0.7% | +15.0% |
| 2.8% | Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | +21.4% |
| 28 min | Average Commute | 25 min | -10.7% |
| 38.5 | Median Age | 30.4 | -21.0% |
| 85,000 | Metro Population | 330,000 | +288.2% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Franklin costs $3,655/month (PITI) compared to $1,392/month in Clarksville — a difference of $2,263/month or $27,156/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.4x in Franklin versus 4.2x in Clarksville, suggesting Clarksville is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 7.2 years to save a down payment in Franklin compared to 5.6 years in Clarksville.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Franklin | Clarksville |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $115,200 | $56,400 |
| State Income Tax | None | None |
| Federal Income Tax | $16,793 | $4,639 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $8,812 | $4,315 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $3,750/yr | $1,622/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 7.0% | 7.0% |
| Total Tax Burden | $25,605 (22.2%) | $8,954 (15.9%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $89,595 | $47,446 |
Tennessee has no state income tax, giving Franklin residents a significant tax advantage. On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $25,605 in Franklin (22.2% effective) versus $8,954 in Clarksville (15.9% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $89,595 in Franklin and $47,446 in Clarksville. Property taxes add $3,750/year on the median Franklin home versus $1,622/year in Clarksville.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $115,200 in Franklin (COL 112) and relocate to Clarksville (COL 89), you would need $91,543 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $23,657 and still maintain your lifestyle in Clarksville.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Franklin is 28 minutes versus 25 minutes in Clarksville, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Franklin's lower unemployment rate of 2.8% versus 3.4% suggests a stronger job market. Franklin skews slightly older with a median age of 38.5 vs 30.4 in Clarksville.
Franklin is 20.5% more expensive than Clarksville overall. Franklin has a cost of living index of 112 compared to 89 for Clarksville (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $625,000 in Franklin vs $235,000 in Clarksville.
The median home price in Franklin is $625,000, which is $390,000 more than Clarksville's median of $235,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,000/month in Franklin vs $1,000/month in Clarksville, a difference of $1,000/month or $12,000/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $115,200 salary in Franklin is equivalent to $91,543 in Clarksville. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Franklin's COL index of 112 vs Clarksville's 89. Conversely, $56,400 in Clarksville equals $70,975 in Franklin.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $25,605 (22.2% effective rate) in Franklin vs $8,954 (15.9% effective rate) in Clarksville. Property taxes on the median home are $3,750/year in Franklin (0.6% rate) vs $1,622/year in Clarksville (0.7% rate). Sales tax rates are 7.0% in Tennessee and 7.0% in Tennessee.
Franklin median household income: $115,200/yr. Clarksville median household income: $56,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,000 in Franklin vs $1,000 in Clarksville. Annualized that is $24,000 vs $12,000.
Clarksville offers a lower cost of living (index 89 vs 112), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Franklin typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Franklin and Clarksville numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Franklin vs Clarksville cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .