Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 16 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $252k less ($327,400 vs $578,900)
20% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$3,263
$70,451 vs $67,188/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
20% lower
420.0 vs 525.6 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$252k less
$327,400 vs $578,900
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 16 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 16 and South Gate wins 6. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $578,900 median home), income ($70,451 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and South Gate, CA are about 1,797 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.