Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Murfreesboro, TN
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
13
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.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($157,800 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($982 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $20,718/yr
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
71% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $20,718 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 30°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Milwaukee
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Milwaukee
Median Home Value
$170k less
$157,800 vs $327,400
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$20,718
$70,451 vs $49,733/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
71% lower
420.0 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Murfreesboro, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 ✓ Lower | $327,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 ✓ Lower | $1,272 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $70,451 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 40.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Rutherford County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 153,487 |
| Median Age | 31.8 ✓ Older | 31.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Murfreesboro's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Milwaukee is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee to Murfreesboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $327,400 median home), income ($49,733 vs $70,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Murfreesboro, TN are about 505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.