Murfreesboro, TN Local Data & Statistics

State: TN

Total population: 161,445 Household income: $80,108 Rent: $1,481

Overview

Total population

161,445

Rent

$1,481

Year built

2002

Household income

$80,108

Per capita income

$39,784

Poverty rate

8.8%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

51.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Tennessee

Total population

161,445

Adults over 25

99,022

Total households

60,683

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$80,108

Per capita income

$39,784

Poverty rate

8.8%

Unemployment rate

3.1%

Rent over 30% of income

51.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,481

Year built

2002

Households that rent

47.6%

Households that own

52.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

65.1%

Black

16.4%

Asian

3.7%

Two or more races

10.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

9.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

90.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

83.8%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

16.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

24.8%

High school graduate or GED

24.1%

Some college or associate degree

8.1%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

43%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Murfreesboro, TN with: Tennessee United States

Murfreesboro, TN

Total population161,445

Rent$1,481

Year built2002

Household income$80,108

Per capita income$39,784

Poverty rate8.8%

Unemployment rate3.1%

Tennessee State

Total population7,066,383

Rent$1,189

Year built1987

Household income$69,595

Per capita income$39,437

Poverty rate13.8%

Unemployment rate3.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityMurfreesboro, TN	StateTennessee	CountryUnited States
Total population	161,445	7,066,383	334,922,499
Rent	$1,481	$1,189	$1,413
Year built	2002	1987	1980
Household income	$80,108	$69,595	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,784	$39,437	$44,673
Poverty rate	8.8%	13.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	3.4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Murfreesboro, TN, Tennessee and United States →

Summary for Murfreesboro, TN

Murfreesboro is located in Tennessee.

Rent & Income

In Murfreesboro, the typical monthly rent is $1,481 and the typical household income is $80,108. Rent here is higher than Tennessee and similar to the U.S., and household income is higher than Tennessee and similar to the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 8.8%, which is lower than in both Tennessee and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 47.6% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 51.3% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is high, with about 43% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.1%, which is lower than both Tennessee and the national rate.

Murfreesboro, TN — Rent vs Household Income

Murfreesboro, TN — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Murfreesboro, TN compares in Tennessee (14 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,481	9 / 14	from lower rent	$907 – $1,923
Household income	$80,108	7 / 14	from higher income	$51,736 – $138,598
Poverty rate	8.8%	6 / 14	from lower poverty	3.2% – 23.1%
Unemployment rate	3.1%	6 / 14	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 5%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Tennessee with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Murfreesboro, TN

Rent

For typical rent levels, Murfreesboro is ranked 9th out of 14 major areas in Tennessee. Statewide values span from $907 in Kingsport, TN to $1,923 in Franklin, TN.

Household income

Murfreesboro ranks 7th among 14 large places for typical household income. Statewide values run from $51,736 in Memphis, TN to $138,598 in Collierville, TN.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Murfreesboro in 6th place among 14 significant areas. Across Tennessee, poverty ranges between 3.2% and 23.1%.

Unemployment rate

Murfreesboro places 6th among 14 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.5% to 5%.

💰 Rent in Murfreesboro, TN (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,481 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Murfreesboro, TN

Annual Household Income: $80,108

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Murfreesboro, TN

Estimated Rate: 8.8%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Murfreesboro, TN

In Murfreesboro, TN, households that rent: 28,900 (47.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	28,900	47.6%
Owner-Occupied	31,783	52.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Murfreesboro, TN

In Murfreesboro, TN, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 14,825 (51.3%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	14,825	51.3%
Other renter households	14,075	48.7%
Total renter households	28,900	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Murfreesboro, TN

Less than High School: 24,566 people (24.8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 23,913 people (24.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 8,007 people (8.1%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 42,536 people (43%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 99,022

📊 Unemployment Rate in Murfreesboro, TN

Estimated Rate: 3.1%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Salinas, CA161,993 Hayward, CA159,201 Corona, CA158,839 Paterson, NJ157,660 Palmdale, CA165,487 Alexandria, VA156,788 Lakewood, CO156,309 Killeen, TX156,144 Kansas City, KS154,776 Springfield, MA154,751

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.