Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clarksville, TN
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories
Clarksville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,688
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
167,882 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Clarksville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($213,200 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,119 vs $1,272)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $7,763/yr
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $7,763 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Clarksville
Key Differences at a Glance
Clarksville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Clarksville
Median Home Value
$114k less
$213,200 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$7,763
$70,451 vs $62,688/yr
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clarksville, TN | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $213,200 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,119 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,688 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 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 | 28.9% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.8°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.5" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 167,882 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 31.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 8.8% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarksville's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Clarksville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Clarksville leads 14 of 22 categories. Clarksville wins 14 and Murfreesboro wins 8. 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 Clarksville to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,200 vs $327,400 median home), income ($62,688 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clarksville, TN and Murfreesboro, TN are about 71 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.