Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Atlanta
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
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.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,204 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
50% less violent crime than Atlanta
Homes cost $68k less ($327,400 vs $395,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $240/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,512)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $7,204/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$7,204
$77,655 vs $70,451/yr
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
50% lower
420.0 vs 840.6 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$68k less
$327,400 vs $395,600
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Atlanta 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 Atlanta to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $327,400 median home), income ($77,655 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Murfreesboro, TN are about 184 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.