Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ 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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($230,500 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $12,748/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.1% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
49% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $12,748 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Chattanooga
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$97k less
$230,500 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$12,748
$70,451 vs $57,703/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
49% lower
420.0 vs 823.7 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $327,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Murfreesboro, TN are about 86 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.