Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($327,400 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $890/mo less ($1,272 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $41,266/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $41,266 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Murfreesboro
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Murfreesboro
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Home Value
$290k less
$327,400 vs $617,300
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.4% unemployment
Tracy
Median Income
$41,266
$111,717 vs $70,451/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
28% lower
301.4 vs 420.0 per 100k
Tracy
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Murfreesboro wins 11 and Tracy wins 11. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $617,300 median home), income ($70,451 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Tracy, CA are about 1,931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.