Murfreesboro Housing Market: How Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne Compare
Census figures on the Murfreesboro housing market next to Smyrna and La Vergne: population growth, homeownership, values and rents in Rutherford County.
The Murfreesboro housing market sits inside one of Middle Tennessee's fastest-growing counties, but federal data show that Rutherford County's cities are not growing, owning or renting in the same way. Census Bureau figures for Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne point to three different housing profiles within a short drive of each other.
Population growth in Rutherford County
Rutherford County had an estimated 386,352 residents on July 1, 2025, up 13.1% from the April 2020 estimates base, according to Census Bureau population estimates. That is more than twice the statewide growth rate of 5.8% over the same period.
Smyrna, which is incorporated as a town, grew fastest of the three, at 19.2%, to 63,321 residents. Murfreesboro added 12.0% to reach 171,178, and La Vergne grew 8.9% to 42,146. The county issued 3,169 residential building permits in 2025, according to QuickFacts.
Home values, rents and homeownership
| Place | Population, July 2025 | Growth since April 2020 | Owner-occupied rate | Median home value | Median gross rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | 171,178 | 12.0% | 52.4% | $402,100 | $1,481 |
| Smyrna | 63,321 | 19.2% | 57.4% | $358,300 | $1,461 |
| La Vergne | 42,146 | 8.9% | 74.0% | $309,900 | $1,805 |
| Rutherford County | 386,352 | 13.1% | 64.8% | $382,600 | $1,502 |
| Tennessee | 7,315,076 | 5.8% | 66.9% | $286,700 | $1,189 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts. Population: Vintage 2025 estimates. Housing: American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates.
Murfreesboro has the highest median home value of the three and the lowest homeownership rate: just over half of its occupied homes are owner-occupied, compared with about two-thirds statewide. La Vergne runs the other way, with the lowest median value, the highest ownership rate at 74.0% and, unusually, the highest median rent of the group. Smyrna falls between the two on value and ownership.
What the figures mean for buyers
The housing figures are five-year survey averages for 2020 through 2024, so they trail current prices and rents. Census notes that sample-based estimates carry sampling error that can make small differences between places statistically indistinguishable; the close median rents in Murfreesboro and Smyrna are an example.
For buyers comparing the three cities, the figures are a broad starting point for comparing them rather than a price guide for a specific home. Iron Hill Mortgage's local pages for Murfreesboro and Smyrna cover each area, and the home affordability calculator can help a buyer set a price range before touring.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts: Rutherford County, Murfreesboro city, Smyrna town, La Vergne city and Tennessee (Vintage 2025 population estimates; American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates; 2025 building permits; accessed Oct. 22, 2026): https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/rutherfordcountytennessee,murfreesborocitytennessee,smyrnatowntennessee,lavergnecitytennessee,tennessee/PST045224