Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Thousand Oaks, CA
🏆 Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Thousand Oaks
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$125,399 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
126,532
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $573k less ($327,400 vs $900,600)
Rent averages $1211/mo less ($1,272 vs $2,483)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Thousand Oaks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Median income trails Thousand Oaks by $54,948/yr
Thousand Oaks, CA
Pros
Households earn $54,948 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (102.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 49.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 89°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $900,600
Higher rents — median is $2,483/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$573k less
$327,400 vs $900,600
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Murfreesboro
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.2°F vs 78.0°F
Thousand Oaks
Median Income
$54,948
$125,399 vs $70,451/yr
Thousand Oaks
Violent Crime
76% lower
102.2 vs 420.0 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Thousand Oaks, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $900,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $2,483⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $125,399 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 18.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 27 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 20.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 49.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Conejo Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 126,532 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 44.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 69.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Thousand Oaks's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thousand Oaks leads 14 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 8 and Thousand Oaks wins 14. 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 Thousand Oaks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $900,600 median home), income ($70,451 vs $125,399), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Thousand Oaks, CA are about 1,831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.