Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Syracuse, NY
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Syracuse
New York
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High
Population
146,134
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Households earn $26,867 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Syracuse
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Syracuse
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($117,900 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $340/mo less ($932 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 89°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $26,867/yr
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$26,867
$70,451 vs $43,584/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
45% lower
420.0 vs 765.3 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 8.6% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 81.7°F
Syracuse
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 95.2 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$210k less
$117,900 vs $327,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 95.2 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $117,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 | $932 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $43,584 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 201⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 202⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 10.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 29.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 84.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 81.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 43.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 127.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 146,134 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 40.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Syracuse's 95.2 (US average = 100).
Syracuse is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 15 and Syracuse wins 7. 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 Syracuse or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $117,900 median home), income ($70,451 vs $43,584), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Syracuse, NY are about 739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.