Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 22 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
9
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
60% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,220 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $250k less ($327,400 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,649)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $12,220/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$12,220
$82,671 vs $70,451/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
60% lower
168.5 vs 420.0 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.3% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$250k less
$327,400 vs $576,900
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 22 categories. Bend wins 13 and Murfreesboro wins 9. 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 Bend to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $327,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.