Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Riverside, CA
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 12 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Riverside
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($327,400 vs $485,500)
29% less violent crime than Riverside
Rent averages $439/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,711)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $12,997/yr
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $12,997 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
29% lower
420.0 vs 589.7 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$158k less
$327,400 vs $485,500
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Riverside
Median Income
$12,997
$83,448 vs $70,451/yr
Riverside
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Riverside, 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 | $485,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,711⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $83,448 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 8.1% |
| 🔒 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 | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 23.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 82.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Riverside Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 10.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 316,076 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Riverside's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 12 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 12 and Riverside wins 10. 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 Riverside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $485,500 median home), income ($70,451 vs $83,448), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Riverside, CA are about 1,753 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.