Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Wayne, IN
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories
Fort Wayne
Indiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81 ✓ Safer
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
10
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.
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $175k less ($152,500 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $368/mo less ($904 vs $1,272)
27% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $12,218/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Households earn $12,218 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Wayne
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Violent Crime
27% lower
307.5 vs 420.0 per 100k
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$175k less
$152,500 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$12,218
$70,451 vs $58,233/yr
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 84.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Wayne, IN | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $152,500 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $904 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,233 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.9% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 91 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fort Wayne Community Schools | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.6°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.7" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 264,514 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Wayne's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Wayne leads 12 of 22 categories. Fort Wayne wins 12 and Murfreesboro wins 10. 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 Fort Wayne to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($152,500 vs $327,400 median home), income ($58,233 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Wayne, IN and Murfreesboro, TN are about 368 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.