Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
69% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $12,383 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($146,700 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($917 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $12,383/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$12,383
$70,451 vs $58,068/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
69% lower
420.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$181k less
$146,700 vs $327,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 13 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 13 and Peoria 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $146,700 median home), income ($70,451 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Peoria, IL are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.