Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Garland leads 14 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
45% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Homes cost $98k less ($229,000 vs $327,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,421)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$593
$71,044 vs $70,451/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
45% lower
232.7 vs 420.0 per 100k
Garland
Median Home Value
$98k less
$229,000 vs $327,400
Garland
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 89.2°F
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 14 of 22 categories. Garland wins 14 and Murfreesboro wins 8. 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 Garland to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $327,400 median home), income ($71,044 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Murfreesboro, TN are about 616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.