Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Tacoma
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
60% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $88k less ($327,400 vs $415,300)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Rent averages $217/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,489)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $8,634/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $8,634 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 89°F
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Murfreesboro
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
60% lower
420.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$88k less
$327,400 vs $415,300
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$8,634
$79,085 vs $70,451/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 15 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $415,300 median home), income ($70,451 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Tacoma, WA are about 2,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.