Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
50% less violent crime than Lancaster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,576)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $41k less ($327,400 vs $368,800)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$916
$71,367 vs $70,451/yr
Lancaster
Summer Heat
8.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 89.2°F
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
50% lower
420.0 vs 834.7 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$41k less
$327,400 vs $368,800
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,272 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $70,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 47.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lancaster 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 Lancaster to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $327,400 median home), income ($71,367 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Murfreesboro, TN are about 1,785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.