Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 21 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
7
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $77,776 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Murfreesboro
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($327,400 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $1081/mo less ($1,272 vs $2,353)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $77,776/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$77,776
$148,227 vs $70,451/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
67% lower
138.1 vs 420.0 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.3% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$310k less
$327,400 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 153,487 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 14 of 21 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 14 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 Highlands Ranch to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $327,400 median home), income ($148,227 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,044 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.