RANK #783 / 1001 NAT · #22 / 33 TN · POP 360,646
1YR FORECAST: -0.6%
5YR OUTLOOK: +14%
Murfreesboro, the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, served as the state capital from 1818 to 1826. Located in the heart of Tennessee, the county is about a 30-minute drive southeast of Nashville, with Interstate 24 bisecting the county and offering direct access to the larger city. The community blends Southern charm with a modern feel, attracting an average of 20 new residents daily. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Stones River National Battlefield, with its trails and scenic river views, or enjoy boating and fishing on the 14,000-acre J. Percy Priest Lake.
Life in Rutherford County is characterized by a mix of families and young professionals, many of whom commute to Nashville. The Rutherford County Schools district is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Tennessee, with several schools earning high ratings for academic growth. Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro also contributes significantly to the local economy and workforce. The economy is driven by sectors like advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and technology, with major employers including Nissan North America in Smyrna.
Rutherford County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -0.6% runs below the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 14.0x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Rutherford County stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 21/100, Rutherford County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $85,470 combined with job growth of -0.6% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Rutherford County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $382,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.22 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,502/month on average.
Rutherford County's population is growing — up +2.6% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.6%). Home values shifted -0.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.29% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Rutherford County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.