Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murfreesboro, TN
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories
Murfreesboro
Tennessee
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,451 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,487 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murfreesboro, TN
Pros
27% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $342/mo less ($1,272 vs $1,614)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Households earn $6,407 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Murfreesboro
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Murfreesboro
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Murfreesboro
Median Income
$6,407
$70,451 vs $64,044/yr
Murfreesboro
Violent Crime
27% lower
420.0 vs 575.8 per 100k
Murfreesboro
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,400⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,272 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,451 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rutherford County | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.2°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,487 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 31.5 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.1% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murfreesboro's cost of living index is 97.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Murfreesboro is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murfreesboro leads 15 of 22 categories. Murfreesboro wins 15 and West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,400 vs $324,800 median home), income ($70,451 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murfreesboro, TN and West Palm Beach, FL are about 730 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.