Murfreesboro TN vs Winston-Salem NC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Murfreesboro, TN
Tennessee · Population: 40,828
- Median HH Income$107,847
- Median Home Price$427,410
- Unemployment3.5%
- Bachelor's+49.5%
Winston-Salem, NC
North Carolina · Population: 118,578
- Median HH Income$63,900
- Median Home Price$265,013
- Unemployment4.6%
- Bachelor's+45.8%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Murfreesboro
40,828
Winston-Salem
118,578
Winston-Salem +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Murfreesboro
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
Median Age
Murfreesboro
39.1
Winston-Salem
37.5
Winston-Salem +
Foreign Born
Murfreesboro
9.8%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
5.7%
White
Murfreesboro
78.3%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
72.9%
Black
Murfreesboro
7.7%
Winston-Salem
14.9%
Winston-Salem +
Asian
Murfreesboro
4.8%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
1.3%
Hispanic
Murfreesboro
7.4%
Winston-Salem
8.9%
Winston-Salem +
Spanish at Home
Murfreesboro
N/A
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 40,828 | 118,578 | Winston-Salem + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 39.1 | 37.5 | Winston-Salem + |
| Foreign Born | 9.8% | 5.7% | Murfreesboro + |
| White | 78.3% | 72.9% | Murfreesboro + |
| Black | 7.7% | 14.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Asian | 4.8% | 1.3% | Murfreesboro + |
| Hispanic | 7.4% | 8.9% | Winston-Salem + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Murfreesboro
$107,847
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
$63,900
Per Capita Income
Murfreesboro
$54,633
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
$46,062
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Murfreesboro
$59,097
Winston-Salem
$59,120
Winston-Salem +
Unemployment Rate
Murfreesboro
3.5%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
4.6%
Poverty Rate
Murfreesboro
4.1%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
16.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
Murfreesboro
49.5%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
45.8%
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $107,847 | $63,900 | Murfreesboro + |
| Per Capita Income | $54,633 | $46,062 | Murfreesboro + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $59,097 | $59,120 | Winston-Salem + |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.6% | Murfreesboro + |
| Poverty Rate | 4.1% | 16.3% | Murfreesboro + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 49.5% | 45.8% | Murfreesboro + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Murfreesboro
$427,410
Winston-Salem
$265,013
Winston-Salem +
Homeownership Rate
Murfreesboro
74.9%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
46.8%
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $427,410 | $265,013 | Winston-Salem + |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.9% | 46.8% | Murfreesboro + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Murfreesboro
639
Winston-Salem
398
Winston-Salem +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Murfreesboro
2350
Winston-Salem
1999
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 639 | 398 | Winston-Salem + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 2350 | 1999 | Winston-Salem + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Murfreesboro
37.3%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
42.7%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Murfreesboro
9.9%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
13.1%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Murfreesboro
20.4%
Winston-Salem
17.4%
Winston-Salem +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Murfreesboro
11.0%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
12.8%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Murfreesboro
16.5%
Winston-Salem
14.4%
Winston-Salem +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Murfreesboro
14.0%
Murfreesboro +
Winston-Salem
14.4%
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 37.3% | 42.7% | Murfreesboro + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 9.9% | 13.1% | Murfreesboro + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 20.4% | 17.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 11.0% | 12.8% | Murfreesboro + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 16.5% | 14.4% | Winston-Salem + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 14.0% | 14.4% | Murfreesboro + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Murfreesboro
58.3°F
Winston-Salem
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Murfreesboro
53.4 in
Winston-Salem
N/A
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 58.3°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 53.4 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Murfreesboro
8.9 µg/m³
Winston-Salem
8.7 µg/m³
Winston-Salem +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Murfreesboro
75.0%
Winston-Salem
75.0%
Tie
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 8.9 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | Winston-Salem + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 75.0% | Tie |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Murfreesboro
33.8 min
Winston-Salem
20.0 min
Winston-Salem +
| Metric | Murfreesboro, TN | Winston-Salem, NC | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 33.8 min | 20.0 min | Winston-Salem + |
Which City is Right for You?
Murfreesboro leads in median household income at $107,847, while winston-Salem offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $265,013. On public safety, Winston-Salem is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 639 in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro has a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%, and Winston-Salem has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.7 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Murfreesboro scores better with a lower obesity rate of 37.3%.
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