True Cost of Renting in Murfreesboro, TN

Murfreesboro is Middle Tennessee's fastest-growing city — a bedroom community for Nashville (35 miles northwest on I-24) that has developed its own employment base around Middle Tennessee State University, healthcare, and logistics. MTSU's 23,000 students anchor the local economy and rental market.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Downtown Murfreesboro / MTSU

Studio:
$1,100/mo
1 Bed:
$1,300/mo
2 Bed:
$1,700/mo

Historic downtown square and MTSU-adjacent corridor; older apartments and newer student-oriented buildings. August synchronized leases for student renters. Nashville Electric Service (or local utility) electric. Street parking generally available.

Medical Center Parkway / Rutherford

1 Bed:
$1,400/mo
2 Bed:
$1,900/mo

Healthcare corridor around StoneCrest Medical Center; newer apartment complexes near I-24 access. Car-dependent but excellent Nashville commute via I-24. Large Amazon fulfillment center nearby employs 1,500+.

Blackman / Stewarts Creek

1 Bed:
$1,300/mo
2 Bed:
$1,700/mo

Suburban residential area south of Murfreesboro; newest apartment complexes with resort amenities. Top-rated Rutherford County schools. Car-dependent. Longer Nashville commute than northern Murfreesboro but newer construction.

Utility Providers

Electric
Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) / TVA
Water
Murfreesboro Water Resources
Internet
Spectrum, AT&T Internet, Brightspeed

Commute & Transportation

I-24 connects Murfreesboro to Nashville (35 miles, 40–55 min) and Chattanooga (80 miles, 1.25 hrs). The I-840 loop provides suburban beltway access. Express commuter parking lots near I-24 interchanges serve Nashville commuters. MTSU employs 2,000+ staff. StoneCrest Medical Center and the growing logistics cluster near I-24 are major local employers. No rail transit — every commute is by car.

Rental Market Overview

Murfreesboro offers Nashville access at 20–25% lower rents for comparable units — the primary value proposition for Nashville workers priced out of the city. MTE electric rates (TVA-backed) average $100–160/month. MTSU's student demand creates August synchronized leasing in the university zone. Rutherford County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the US — new apartment supply has kept pace but demand remains strong from Nashville-area workers seeking affordability. Tennessee has no state income tax and no state-level rent control, so the entire cost advantage over Nashville shows up on the rent line rather than a tax line. Because MTSU and the Amazon fulfillment center run on very different schedules, from academic-year student turnover to steady year-round shift work, the neighborhoods near each tend to have noticeably different vacancy patterns even a few miles apart, which is worth checking against the specific address rather than assuming Murfreesboro behaves as one uniform market.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Murfreesboro

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Murfreesboro: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Murfreesboro?
One-bedroom apartments in Murfreesboro range from $1,300/month in Downtown Murfreesboro / MTSU to $1,400/month in Medical Center Parkway / Rutherford. Two-bedroom units range from $1,700 to $1,900/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Murfreesboro?
In Murfreesboro, electricity is provided by Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) / TVA, water by Murfreesboro Water Resources, and common internet providers include Spectrum, AT&T Internet, Brightspeed. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Murfreesboro.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Murfreesboro?
Downtown Murfreesboro / MTSU is the most affordable of the 3 Murfreesboro neighborhoods covered here, at $1,300/month for a one-bedroom — $100 less than Medical Center Parkway / Rutherford, roughly a 7% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Murfreesboro expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Murfreesboro runs about $1,333/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Murfreesboro offers Nashville access at 20–25% lower rents for comparable units — the primary value proposition for Nashville workers priced out of the city. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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