Asheville vs Murfreesboro
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $402,100 in Murfreesboro and $440,000 in Asheville.
- Households earn more in Murfreesboro ($80,108 vs $71,102 median).
- Asheville gets far more snow: 12 inches a year vs 2.
- Murfreesboro has more scorching days: 48 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 16.
- Murfreesboro is growing faster: +12% since 2020 vs -1.3%.
- Commutes are shorter in Asheville (18 vs 27 minutes each way).
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages; North Carolina's top rate is 3.99%.
Side by side
| Asheville, NC | Murfreesboro, TN | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 93,523 | 171,178 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1.3% | +12% |
| People per square mile | 2,056 | 2,652 |
| Median age | 40.7 | 31.6 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53% | 43% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $71,102 | $80,108 |
| Median home value | $440,000 | $402,100 |
| Home value to income | 6.2× | 5.0× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,402 | $1,481 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 96.5 | 96.3 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 93.4 | 104.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $72,400 | $72,300 |
| Homeowners | 52% | 52% |
| Top state income tax | 3.99% | None |
| Combined sales tax | 7.1% | 9.61% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.2 | 26.7 |
| Work from home | 20% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 0% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 4.3% |
| Poverty rate | 14.3% | 8.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 48° / 29° | 48° / 28° |
| July high / low | 86° / 65° | 89° / 68° |
| Precipitation per year | 41 in | 56 in |
| Snowfall per year | 12 in | 2 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 16 | 48 |
| Nights below freezing | 77 | 89 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 2 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 89.3 | 91.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 70% | 51% |
| Home prices, past year | +1.4% | +1.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +45.3% | +45.8% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Asheville: April to October. Murfreesboro: September to October.
Full monthly tables: Asheville weather by month and Murfreesboro weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $72,400 in Asheville and $72,300 in Murfreesboro. Moving from Asheville to Murfreesboro, you would need about $74,900 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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