Memphis, TN vs Clarksville, 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 Memphis, TN at $1,397 per resident and in Clarksville, TN at $611.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Memphis, TN at 100% of total revenue, whereas Clarksville, TN relies most on other revenue at 9%.
Summary
Memphis spends 159.4% 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 | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $118 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $1,799 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $2,073 |
| Other | $3,994 | $3,159 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $299 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $45 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $1,038 |
| Health | $391 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $137 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $611 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,349 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $219 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $1,345 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $444 |
| Other | $8,850 | $2,036 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.