Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Olathe, KS
🏆 Olathe leads 18 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Olathe
Kansas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,077 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
142,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Median income trails Olathe by $37,626/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Olathe
Olathe, KS
Pros
Households earn $37,626 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (196.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 50.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Olathe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Olathe
Median Income
$37,626
$108,077 vs $70,451/yr
Olathe
Violent Crime
53% lower
196.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Olathe
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Olathe, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $317,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 | $1,229 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $108,077 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 4.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 50.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | School for Deaf |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 38.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 40.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 142,114 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 36.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 73.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Olathe's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Olathe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Olathe leads 18 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 4 and Olathe wins 18. 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 Olathe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $317,900 median home), income ($70,451 vs $108,077), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Olathe, KS are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.