Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Sugar Land, TX
🏆 Sugar Land leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Sugar Land
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$132,247 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
110,077
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $596/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,868)
Homes cost $61k less ($327,400 vs $387,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 94°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sugar Land
Cons
Median income trails Sugar Land by $61,796/yr
Sugar Land, TX
Pros
Households earn $61,796 more per year on average
81% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,868/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $387,900
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.3%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Murfreesboro
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$61k less
$327,400 vs $387,900
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.0% unemployment
Sugar Land
Median Income
$61,796
$132,247 vs $70,451/yr
Sugar Land
Violent Crime
81% lower
78.0 vs 420.0 per 100k
Sugar Land
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Sugar Land, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $387,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,868⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $132,247 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | FORT BEND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 64.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 110,077 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 81.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Sugar Land's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sugar Land leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 7 and Sugar Land wins 15. 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 Sugar Land or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $387,900 median home), income ($70,451 vs $132,247), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Sugar Land, TX are about 688 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.