Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,530 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $632k less ($327,400 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $996/mo less ($1,272 vs $2,268)
43% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $34,530/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$34,530
$104,981 vs $70,451/yr
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
43% lower
420.0 vs 737.6 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$632k less
$327,400 vs $959,800
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $327,400 median home), income ($104,981 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,786 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.