Clarksville, TN vs Memphis, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN outspends Clarksville, TN by a wide margin per resident — $22,111 versus $8,523, a 159% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Clarksville, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 80/100 (grade A) against 65/100 (grade B) for Memphis, TN — a 15-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $833 for Clarksville, TN. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Clarksville, TN at $611 per resident and in Memphis, TN at $1,397.
They also fund themselves differently: other revenue is the largest single revenue source in Clarksville, TN at 9% of total revenue, whereas Memphis, TN relies most on intergovernmental transfers at 100%.
Summary
Memphis spends 61.5% more per capita than Clarksville ($13,588/person difference). Clarksville, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 80/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $10 |
| Sales Tax | $118 | $496 |
| Income Tax | $0 | $1,218 |
| Intergovernmental | $1,799 | $34,065 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,073 | $2,077 |
| Other | $3,159 | $3,994 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $299 | $469 |
| Highways & Roads | $45 | $277 |
| Public Welfare | $1,038 | $630 |
| Health | $0 | $391 |
| Hospitals | $137 | $1,677 |
| Parks & Recreation | $611 | $1,397 |
| Housing | $2,349 | $4,683 |
| Sewerage | $219 | $0 |
| Utilities | $1,345 | $2,578 |
| Interest on Debt | $444 | $1,158 |
| Other | $2,036 | $8,850 |
Compare More Cities
Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.