Rents are 8% below what Murfreesboro's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,679 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Murfreesboro usually run 1% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in August, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Murfreesboro is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Murfreesboro changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 51 Tennessee cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Murfreesboro rose 36.6% while median household income rose 29.2% ($62,003 to $80,108). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Murfreesboro is 36.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($80,108) is $2,003 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,728); a 3-bedroom is $2,183.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Murfreesboro, 37129 ($1,853/mo), costs 23% more than the cheapest, 37130 ($1,506/mo).
Manchester, 30 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,489/mo), about $2,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Murfreesboro. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Murfreesboro, TN is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 43% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Murfreesboro, TN has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Murfreesboro, TN has shifted from $1,297 to $1,679, up 29.5% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Murfreesboro, TN now reports about $80,108, up from $66,984 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Murfreesboro, TN adding about 12,475 residents over the five-year window, up 8.4% on net. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Murfreesboro, TN reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Murfreesboro
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Murfreesboro on your salary?
At $1,679/mo, how Murfreesboro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Murfreesboro rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Murfreesboro. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Murfreesboro
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Murfreesboro is $1,679/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,505/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,728/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,560/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,183/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($80,108/yr), Murfreesboro ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Murfreesboro?
Is rent going up or down in Murfreesboro?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Murfreesboro?
Has rent outpaced income in Murfreesboro?
Which Murfreesboro neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Murfreesboro rent compare to other cities in Tennessee?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Murfreesboro?
At $1,679/mo, rent takes ~25% of Murfreesboro's median household income ($80,108/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Murfreesboro.
No discussions yet.