Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,822)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 105°F
Homes cost $25k less ($327,400 vs $352,600)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $17,305/yr
Surprise, AZ
Pros
74% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Households earn $17,305 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Pricier housing — median home is $352,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$25k less
$327,400 vs $352,600
Surprise
Median Income
$17,305
$87,756 vs $70,451/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
74% lower
109.1 vs 420.0 per 100k
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 9 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $352,600 median home), income ($70,451 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Surprise, AZ are about 1,481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.