Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487
Port St. Lucie
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $412/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,684)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $4,589/yr
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
72% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $35k less ($292,900 vs $327,400)
Households earn $4,589 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.7% unemployment
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$4,589
$75,040 vs $70,451/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
72% lower
116.7 vs 420.0 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Median Home Value
$35k less
$292,900 vs $327,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $292,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Murfreesboro wins 11 and Port St. Lucie wins 11. 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $292,900 median home), income ($70,451 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.