Murfreesboro, TN Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Murfreesboro, TN: What You Need to Know

Murfreesboro, the seat of Rutherford County, is located at the exact center of Tennessee. It was the temporary state capital from 1818 to 1826 because of its strategic location.

The Local History

In 1811, a 60-acre plot of land owned by Capt. William Lytle became the site for the Rutherford County seat. It was originally called Cannonsburgh, but it was changed to Murfreesboro in honor of Lytle’s friend, Colonel Hardy Murfree. During the Civil War, the Stones River near the city was the site of a bloody battle from Dec. 31, 1862 to Jan. 2, 1863. The Union forces under Gen. William S. Rosecrans defeated Gen. Braxton Bragg’s Confederate troops.

Things to Do in Murfreesboro

History buffs flock to the Stones River National Battlefield, a 570-acre park, and the site of the historic Battle of Stones River. Visit Fortress Rosecrans at the park, one of the largest earthen fortifications built by Union troops. Constructed in 1863, it was named after Gen. Rosecrans. Discovery Center, a children's museum and nature center, is a popular family destination. It’s located on a 20-acre wetland, which showcases rare plants and wetlands ecosystem. The center features interactive and educational exhibits.

The Cost of Living in the City

The Boro, as locals call their hometown, is an affordable city. Its cost of living rate and food costs are 14.8% and 21.9% lower than the national average, respectively. However, its housing cost is 19.2% higher than the national average. The median gross rent in Murfreesboro is $997. Tennessee has no tax on salaries and wages, but it collects a 2% flat rate on income from interest and dividends. The state levies 7% to 9.75% in sales tax. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

If you’re thinking of renting in Murfreesboro, you’ll be in good company as almost half of all city residents are renters. They love their parks, walking trails, shopping centers, and public schools. Suburbanites are attracted to Smyrna for its proximity to Murfreesboro and Nashville both, and its above-average schools. If you don’t mind the commute, Eagleville offers real country living where everyone knows each other plus it has excellent schools.

The Local Population

Murfreesboro has a thriving immigrant community, including refugees from Somalia and Iraq. Out of the city’s population of 146,900, 6.9% are foreign-born. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was thrust into the spotlight when a group of residents tried to block the building of a new mosque by filing a lawsuit in 2010. They claimed the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom didn’t apply to the mosque because Islam is not a religion. The mosque opened in 2012, and the litigation finally ended in 2014 when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.