Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories
Columbus
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
13
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($212,500 vs $327,400)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $111/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,272)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $7,457/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $7,457 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Columbus
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Median Home Value
$115k less
$212,500 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$7,457
$70,451 vs $62,994/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
3% lower
420.0 vs 434.9 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Columbus wins 9 and Murfreesboro wins 13. 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 Columbus to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $327,400 median home), income ($62,994 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Murfreesboro, TN are about 341 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.