Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $12,335 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($327,400 vs $494,100)
47% less violent crime than Lakewood
Rent averages $393/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,665)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $12,335/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$12,335
$82,786 vs $70,451/yr
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
47% lower
420.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$167k less
$327,400 vs $494,100
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood'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 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Murfreesboro wins 13. 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 Lakewood to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $327,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,053 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.