Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Rialto, CA
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Rialto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,750 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
169⚠ High
Population
103,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.0 pts lower (4.3%)
35% less violent crime than Rialto
Homes cost $91k less ($327,400 vs $418,300)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,553)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Rialto by $10,299/yr
Rialto, CA
Pros
Households earn $10,299 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (641.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $418,300
Higher rents — median is $1,553/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
35% lower
420.0 vs 641.7 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$91k less
$327,400 vs $418,300
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
5.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 9.3% unemployment
Rialto
Median Income
$10,299
$80,750 vs $70,451/yr
Rialto
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Rialto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $418,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,553⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $80,750 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 74.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Rialto Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 103,873 |
| Median Age | 31.5 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 62.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Rialto's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 15 and Rialto wins 7. 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 Rialto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $418,300 median home), income ($70,451 vs $80,750), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Rialto, CA are about 1,750 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.