Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Norwalk, CT
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 12 of 21 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
91,050
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($327,400 vs $491,800)
Rent averages $589/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,861)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $27,428/yr
Norwalk, CT
Pros
80% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Households earn $27,428 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher rents — median is $1,861/mo
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$164k less
$327,400 vs $491,800
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 84.8°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$27,428
$97,879 vs $70,451/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
80% lower
85.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Norwalk, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $491,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,861⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $97,879 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 27.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 12.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 42.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 88.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Norwalk School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 91,050 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 40.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Norwalk's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 12 of 21 categories. Murfreesboro wins 12 and Norwalk wins 9. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $491,800 median home), income ($70,451 vs $97,879), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Norwalk, CT are about 790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.