Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,622)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $40,672/yr
Higher unemployment (4.3% vs 3.2%)
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Pearland, TX
Pros
77% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Households earn $40,672 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$40,672
$111,123 vs $70,451/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
77% lower
95.9 vs 420.0 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$16k less
$311,100 vs $327,400
Pearland
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.3% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 17 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 5 and Pearland wins 17. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $311,100 median home), income ($70,451 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Pearland, TX are about 676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.