Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Kansas City
Kansas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
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.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $194k less ($133,800 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $14,331/yr
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
60% less violent crime than Kansas City
Households earn $14,331 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Kansas City
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$194k less
$133,800 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$14,331
$70,451 vs $56,120/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
60% lower
420.0 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Kansas City wins 11 and Murfreesboro wins 11. 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 Kansas City to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $327,400 median home), income ($56,120 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Murfreesboro, TN are about 509 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.