Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 12 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($243,000 vs $327,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $6,313/yr
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
33% less violent crime than Jacksonville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,313 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Home Value
$84k less
$243,000 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$6,313
$70,451 vs $64,138/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
33% lower
420.0 vs 623.8 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 12 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 10 and Murfreesboro wins 12. 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 Jacksonville to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $327,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Murfreesboro, TN are about 470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.