Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487
Tucson
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
29% less violent crime than Tucson
Households earn $18,402 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,400
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tucson
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $109k less ($218,200 vs $327,400)
Rent averages $281/mo less ($991 vs $1,272)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Murfreesboro
Cons
Median income trails Murfreesboro by $18,402/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$18,402
$70,451 vs $52,049/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
29% lower
420.0 vs 588.8 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$109k less
$218,200 vs $327,400
Tucson
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 89.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Murfreesboro wins 11 and Tucson 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $218,200 median home), income ($70,451 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and Tucson, AZ are about 1,420 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.