Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 El Paso leads 15 of 22 categories
El Paso
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
7
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $168k less ($159,300 vs $327,400)
34% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Rent averages $296/mo less ($976 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $14,741/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Households earn $14,741 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 7% higher than El Paso
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
34% lower
278.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$168k less
$159,300 vs $327,400
El Paso
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 89.2°F
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$14,741
$70,451 vs $55,710/yr
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, El Paso leads 15 of 22 categories. El Paso wins 15 and Murfreesboro wins 7. 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 El Paso to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $327,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,179 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.