Des Moines IA vs Murfreesboro TN — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Des Moines, IA
Iowa · Population: 212,464
- Median HH Income$63,966
- Median Home Price$210,703
- Unemployment5.8%
- Bachelor's+29.0%
Murfreesboro, TN
Tennessee · Population: 40,828
- Median HH Income$107,847
- Median Home Price$427,410
- Unemployment3.5%
- Bachelor's+49.5%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Des Moines
212,464
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
40,828
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Des Moines
N/A
Murfreesboro
N/A
Median Age
Des Moines
34.6
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
39.1
Foreign Born
Des Moines
14.0%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
9.8%
White
Des Moines
66.9%
Murfreesboro
78.3%
Murfreesboro +
Black
Des Moines
12.0%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
7.7%
Asian
Des Moines
6.2%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
4.8%
Hispanic
Des Moines
16.0%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
7.4%
Spanish at Home
Des Moines
N/A
Murfreesboro
N/A
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 212,464 | 40,828 | Des Moines + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 39.1 | Des Moines + |
| Foreign Born | 14.0% | 9.8% | Des Moines + |
| White | 66.9% | 78.3% | Murfreesboro + |
| Black | 12.0% | 7.7% | Des Moines + |
| Asian | 6.2% | 4.8% | Des Moines + |
| Hispanic | 16.0% | 7.4% | Des Moines + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Des Moines
$63,966
Murfreesboro
$107,847
Murfreesboro +
Per Capita Income
Des Moines
$36,459
Murfreesboro
$54,633
Murfreesboro +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Des Moines
$61,226
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
$59,097
Unemployment Rate
Des Moines
5.8%
Murfreesboro
3.5%
Murfreesboro +
Poverty Rate
Des Moines
14.9%
Murfreesboro
4.1%
Murfreesboro +
Bachelor's Degree+
Des Moines
29.0%
Murfreesboro
49.5%
Murfreesboro +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $63,966 | $107,847 | Murfreesboro + |
| Per Capita Income | $36,459 | $54,633 | Murfreesboro + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $61,226 | $59,097 | Des Moines + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 3.5% | Murfreesboro + |
| Poverty Rate | 14.9% | 4.1% | Murfreesboro + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 29.0% | 49.5% | Murfreesboro + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Des Moines
$210,703
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
$427,410
Homeownership Rate
Des Moines
60.5%
Murfreesboro
74.9%
Murfreesboro +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $210,703 | $427,410 | Des Moines + |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 74.9% | Murfreesboro + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Des Moines
296
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
639
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Des Moines
1452
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
2350
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 296 | 639 | Des Moines + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1452 | 2350 | Des Moines + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
39.4%
Murfreesboro
37.3%
Murfreesboro +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
11.8%
Murfreesboro
9.9%
Murfreesboro +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Des Moines
19.0%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
20.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
10.6%
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
11.0%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
19.8%
Murfreesboro
16.5%
Murfreesboro +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Des Moines
16.4%
Murfreesboro
14.0%
Murfreesboro +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 39.4% | 37.3% | Murfreesboro + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 11.8% | 9.9% | Murfreesboro + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 19.0% | 20.4% | Des Moines + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 10.6% | 11.0% | Des Moines + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 19.8% | 16.5% | Murfreesboro + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 16.4% | 14.0% | Murfreesboro + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Des Moines
49.9°F
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
58.3°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Des Moines
35.6 in
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
53.4 in
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 49.9°F | 58.3°F | Des Moines + |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 35.6 in | 53.4 in | Des Moines + |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Des Moines
10.2 µg/m³
Murfreesboro
8.9 µg/m³
Murfreesboro +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Des Moines
55.0%
Murfreesboro
75.0%
Murfreesboro +
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 10.2 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | Murfreesboro + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 55.0% | 75.0% | Murfreesboro + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Des Moines
21.1 min
Des Moines +
Murfreesboro
33.8 min
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Murfreesboro, TN | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 21.1 min | 33.8 min | Des Moines + |
Which City is Right for You?
Murfreesboro leads in median household income at $107,847, while des Moines offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $210,703. On public safety, Des Moines is safer with a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 residents, compared to 639 in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro has a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%, and Murfreesboro has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Murfreesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.3%.
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