Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
St. Petersburg, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 12 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
St. Petersburg
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,333
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
32% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Rent averages $138/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,410)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Petersburg
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Homes cost $38k less ($289,000 vs $327,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,410/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
32% lower
420.0 vs 619.6 per 100k
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$38k less
$289,000 vs $327,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | St. Petersburg, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $289,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,410⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $70,333 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 40.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | PINELLAS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 46.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 259,343 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs St. Petersburg's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 12 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 10 and St. Petersburg wins 12. 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 St. Petersburg or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $289,000 median home), income ($70,451 vs $70,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and St. Petersburg, FL are about 601 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.