Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Davenport, IA
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 14 of 22 categories
Davenport
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,890
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
101,448
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
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.
Davenport, IA
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($155,100 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $382/mo less ($890 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (581.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $10,561/yr
Property crime (3540.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
28% less violent crime than Davenport
Households earn $10,561 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Davenport
Key Differences at a Glance
Davenport
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Davenport
Median Home Value
$172k less
$155,100 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$10,561
$70,451 vs $59,890/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
28% lower
420.0 vs 581.4 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 83.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Davenport, IA | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $155,100 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $890 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,890 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 159⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 169⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.5% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Davenport Comm School District | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.0°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.1" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,448 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Davenport's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Davenport is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 14 of 22 categories. Davenport wins 8 and Murfreesboro wins 14. 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 Davenport to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,100 vs $327,400 median home), income ($59,890 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Davenport, IA and Murfreesboro, TN are about 454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.