Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa 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
Tampa
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Rent averages $150/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,422)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Households earn $3,649 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.3%)
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
Median Income
$3,649
$70,451 vs $66,802/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
6% lower
420.0 vs 444.6 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Tampa, 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 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $66,802 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 12 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 10 and Tampa 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $333,200 median home), income ($70,451 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Tampa, FL are about 592 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.