Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Albuquerque
New Mexico
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,503
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Homes cost $81k less ($246,000 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,014 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $8,948/yr
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
64% less violent crime than Albuquerque
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $8,948 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Albuquerque
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Albuquerque
Median Home Value
$81k less
$246,000 vs $327,400
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 89.2°F
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$8,948
$70,451 vs $61,503/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
64% lower
420.0 vs 1181.8 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Albuquerque is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Albuquerque wins 11 and Murfreesboro wins 11. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $327,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.