Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 14 of 21 categories
Knoxville
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
14
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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($184,200 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $229/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $22,142/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Households earn $22,142 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Knoxville
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Knoxville
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$143k less
$184,200 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$22,142
$70,451 vs $48,309/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
43% lower
420.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 55.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 14 of 21 categories. Knoxville wins 7 and Murfreesboro wins 14. 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 Knoxville to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $327,400 median home), income ($48,309 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Murfreesboro, TN are about 139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.