Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Arvada leads 12 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,563 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $226k less ($327,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $434/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,706)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $35,563/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$35,563
$106,014 vs $70,451/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
32% lower
285.6 vs 420.0 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$226k less
$327,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 12 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 12 and Murfreesboro wins 10. 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 Arvada to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $327,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,056 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.