- Sperling’s BestPlaces gives Clarksville an average cost of living index of 85.6, which is lower than the state and national averages of 87.6 and 100, respectively. This suggests money can go further in the city, particularly health care costs, which have an index of 97.3 that’s below Tennessee’s (101.9) and the country’s (100). The index for transportation costs is also significantly below the norm, at 83.4.
- Clarksville’s natural environment is very healthy. The city’s air quality has an index of 62, four points above the national average, and its water quality gets a perfect 100/100. Clarksville has also taken significant steps toward decontaminating land deemed a potential danger to its citizens, scoring 99/100 for its work with the EPA’s Superfund program.Â
- Crime statistics never make good reading, particularly when they show crime rates above the national averages. Although Clarksville has higher-than-average crime rates, when compared to the averages for Tennessee, property and violent crimes are less common. Seniors concerned about crime in the city may be pleased to know assisted living facilities typically include security and surveillance systems as standard and have staff on-site around the clock.
- The Clarksville Transit System operates a program known as The Lift, a paratransit service for the disabled and adults aged 70+ residing in assisted living facilities (although younger seniors may qualify in some cases). The shared ride service’s vehicles are suitable for wheelchair users, and the cost per ride is $2.50.
- Six hospitals serve the medical needs of Clarksville’s residents, such as Tennova Healthcare, which provides a full range of services, including cancer care, heart care and orthopedic treatments. Accession St. Thomas specializes in urgent care, as well as occupational therapies and dermatology services.
- Clarksville became an AARP Age-Friendly Community in 2019. Since then, it has developed an action plan to identify areas for improvement that will enhance Clarksville’s senior-friendliness. To date, the city has taken steps to make navigating the city’s more pedestrianized areas easier and provided funding to support the Dementia-Friendly Churches Project.
According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the median fee for assisted living in Clarksville is $3,215 per month. As the average for Tennessee is $4,105, this suggests Clarksville’s seniors save approximately $890 per month when compared with their peers across the state. Savings are higher still when measured against the U.S. average of $4,500.
Clarksville is the most affordable city for assisted living in this part of Tennessee. At $3,215 per month, the city’s typical senior pays significantly less for care than in Nashville, where assisted living costs $4,100, and Jackson, where it costs $4,240. Seniors in Clarksville may have trouble finding more affordable cities close to home since Bowling Green, Kentucky, an hour over the border, has a median price of $3,500.
Clarksville
Tennessee
United States
Nashville
Jackson
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Assisted living is affordable in Clarksville, particularly when compared to home care, which averages $4,767. Despite home health including medical services, its median fee is the same as in-home care. All care options are more affordable than the nursing home average of $6,753 for a semiprivate room. Adult day care centers are the least costly choice, at $1,083, which reflects their basic services.
In-Home Care
Home Health Care
Adult Day Health Care
Assisted Living Facility
Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)
Seniors in Tennessee who are exploring their options for long-term care will soon discover that the state has several programs offering financial and other support for in-home care and peripheral services, however there is only one Medicaid-affiliated initiative specifically for low-income seniors interested in assisted living placement. Seniors who qualify for nursing home placement and Medicaid assistance can use the CHOICES program to fund Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in Tennessee page.