RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Murfreesboro made the "Best Places for Renters" list and according to Rent Cafe, the 'Boro is in the top 30th percentile for residents to pick.
In Tennessee, Murfreesboro was at the number 2 spot for renters. However, that was not the case when you compare the ‘boro to 148 other cities across the U.S. The list confirmed that nationwide, Murfreesboro ranked at number 41 on the list. As for the other large cities in Tennessee, Nashville was the number 1 pick for renters. Music City shined in cost of living and housing as well as having a great local economy. Overall and across the nation, Nashville was ranked as the 29th best city for renters in 2024. Chattanooga was number 3 in the state, followed by Knoxville at number 4 and then Memphis at number 5. When looking at the bigger picture nationwide, Chattanooga is at number 50 on the list, Knoxville is number 54 and Memphis is number 112.
If the apartment living list was based on the cost of living alone, Murfreesboro would have been placed in the top 10 for the United States and number 1 in the state. Murfreesboro's glowing rank of 7 for cost of living is one of the best on the list. But unfortunately, there are more factors that go into deciding what cities are top and what cities are not.
If apartments were ranked by size, the 'Boro would once again shine as the 11th best in the nation. Murfreesboro apartments are the 11th biggest bang for the buck at an average size of 999 square feet. Rent Café also found that 66.1% of the apartments in the ‘Boro are considered to be “high-end apartments.”
In the Volunteer State, most apartment complexes are nearly filled to capacity. In the Murfreesboro area, the occupancy rate is high at 94.2%, which is tied with Chattanooga. In other words, Murfreesboro and Chattanooga both have a vacancy rate of 5.8%. Nashville apartments are also filled to the brim with a 91.8% occupancy rate and a vacancy rate of 8.2%. Memphis has the highest vacancy rate in the state for large cities at 11.9% and an occupancy rate of 88.1%. The occupancy rate for the Knoxville area comes in at 96.2%, making their vacancy rate the lowest in the state at 3.8%.
A complete guide of the Best Cities for Renters of 2024 can be found online HERE. Those cities were ranked after Rent Café calculated and factored in 20 of the most relevant indicators. See apartments in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County, TN HERE.
NASHVILLE DETAILS: More than half (54.9%) of apartments in Nashville offer high-end amenities, giving renters great housing choices.
What’s more for Music City, the area boasts one of the highest shares of newly built rentals in the South, 29.6%. Plus, a lower market competitiveness makes it easier for apartment hunters to find a place here compared to other cities.
- Local economy #38
Renters’ income in Nashville saw a 38.7% increase in the span of five years, all while the unemployment rate is relatively low (4.6%) compared to other destinations in the South. What’s more, Nashville’s economic vitality is evidenced by the high number of business applications within a year.
- Quality of life #54
Nashville boasts a strong sense of community, multiple cultural and recreational opportunities. However, the city ranked lower in this category due to limited public transport and walkability. At the same time, Nashville has very few rentals (7.2%) in top locations with easy access to services and entertainment.
- On a side note, at the top of the renters list... Charleston, South Carolina, followed by Atlanta, Georgia at number 2 and Sarasota, Florida at number 3.
