Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Newark
New Jersey
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $23,991 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Newark
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $15k less ($312,300 vs $327,400)
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $23,991/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$23,991
$70,451 vs $46,460/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
28% lower
420.0 vs 581.2 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$15k less
$312,300 vs $327,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 10.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 15 and Newark wins 7. 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 Murfreesboro to Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($70,451 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Newark, NJ are about 744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.