Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 10 of 19 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $38,817 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Murfreesboro
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $66k less ($327,400 vs $393,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $38,817/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$38,817
$109,268 vs $70,451/yr
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$66k less
$327,400 vs $393,700
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 10 of 19 categories. Germantown wins 9 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 Germantown to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $327,400 median home), income ($109,268 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Murfreesboro, TN are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.