Murfreesboro 76 Excellent
Murfreesboro Livability #10 ranked city in Tennessee#3,474 ranked city in the USARanks better than 88% of areas
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Murfreesboro, TN - The Heart of Tennessee

Murfreesboro, TN, known as 'The Heart of Tennessee,' offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern urban amenities. Located in Rutherford County, Murfreesboro is a large city that serves as a major cultural and economic hub. Major nearby cities like Nashville (34 miles) and Franklin (40 miles) enhance its status as a central point in the region. Murfreesboro's blend of historic landmarks, cultural festivals, and urban amenities creates a distinctive living experience.

Murfreesboro is home to several iconic landmarks, including the Stones River National Battlefield, the historic Oaklands Mansion, and the scenic Cannonsburgh Village. The city offers a variety of attractions, from the beautiful Barfield Crescent Park to the bustling The Avenue Murfreesboro, known for its shopping and dining. Murfreesboro's dining scene is diverse, offering everything from Southern cuisine to international dishes.

Annual events such as the Main Street JazzFest and the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival highlight the city's vibrant cultural scene and provide unique entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors. These events celebrate Murfreesboro's rich cultural heritage and community spirit. Prestigious institutions like Middle Tennessee State University contribute to the city's academic and cultural vibrancy, fostering a thriving intellectual community.

The arts and culture scene in Murfreesboro is dynamic and diverse, with numerous theaters, music venues, and art galleries. The Center for the Arts and the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra are just a few of the cultural landmarks that showcase the city's commitment to the arts. Living in Murfreesboro provides ample opportunities to engage with art, music, and history, making it an exciting place to call home.

Murfreesboro’s community is welcoming and diverse, creating a friendly environment for newcomers. The city is home to professional sports teams like the Tennessee Titans (NFL) and the Nashville Predators (NHL), providing plenty of excitement for sports fans. Major industries in Murfreesboro include healthcare, education, and manufacturing, with significant employers such as Middle Tennessee Medical Center and Nissan North America driving economic growth. The city has extensive public transit options, including buses and bike-sharing programs, making commuting convenient for residents. Murfreesboro enjoys a temperate climate with hot summers and mild winters, perfect for outdoor activities year-round.

Pros and Cons of Living in Murfreesboro

PROS
  • Amenities Amenities

    Within the vicinity, you'll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Murfreesboro?

Murfreesboro is a medium-sized city located in the state of Tennessee. The city has a population of 146,103 inhabitants. At 71%, the majority of the Murfreesboro population is White; this is followed by 19% Black and 3% Asian. Murfreesboro could be a great place for young adults and students as the average age of 31 years old is below the nation’s average. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Murfreesboro, only 48% of the population is married. On a daily basis, the typical American spends approximately 26 minutes on their one-way work commute. Reduced travel times not only contributes to increased overall happiness, but also affords more opportunities to cherish moments with family and friends. If you're living in Murfreesboro, your commute time will align closely with the national average, spanning a one-way duration of approximately 27 minutes.

Whether you’re relocating to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Murfreesboro could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Tennessee if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. Using the livability score which includes data from categories like amenities, cost of living, housing, you can easily compare the best places to live in Murfreesboro and also determine if there are any nearby cities that might be a better match for your lifestyle. You can also compare Murfreesboro to Tennessee and the national average.

Murfreesboro, TN receives 76/100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #7 in Tennessee and #3,088 in the USA. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Murfreesboro could be a great choice! If we check out each of the categories individually, we see that Murfreesboro ranks well for amenities (A+), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Murfreesboro does not score well for the following: crime (D-). It might be wise to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

The mantra of real estate, "location, location, location," underscores the importance of where a property is situated, making it a pivotal factor in your quest for a new home. Fortunately, when you're living in Murfreesboro, you'll discover an abundance of exceptional local amenities and lots of things to do. Among these are conveniently located grocery stores, charming coffee shops, diverse dining options and plenty of spacious parks. These local amenities contribute significantly to its overall appeal, ensuring that your daily needs are met and offering ample opportunities for leisure and recreation. When considering your next move, the thriving local scene in Murfreesboro undoubtedly enhances its desirability, affirming the significance of its prime location. Some of the more notable entertainment options include: Discovery Center, Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village, and Oaklands Historic House and Museum.

Real estate represents the most substantial investment for homebuyers, constituting their most valuable asset. Renters, on the other hand, typically see their monthly rent as their most significant expense. The Murfreesboro market earns a high score in the housing category, surpassing the national average in factors like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates. This robust real estate market not only benefits individual homeowners and renters but also spurs vigorous local economic activity and job growth, solidifying its significance in driving the region's prosperity and financial well-being.

Assuming that Murfreesboro meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Murfreesboro. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Murfreesboro are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Murfreesboro come in at $469,251, which is 79% higher than the Tennessee average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Murfreesboro, the home price to income ratio is 5.2, which is 40.5% higher than the Tennessee average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Murfreesboro

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      Murfreesboro transportation information

      Statistic Murfreesboro Tennessee National
      Average one way commute27min25min26min
      Workers who drive to work79.0%83.6%76.4%
      Workers who carpool10.2%9.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%0.8%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.4%0.1%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.0%1.4%2.8%
      Working from home8.2%3.9%4.6%
      Source: The Murfreesboro, TN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.