Memphis, TN vs Murfreesboro, TN
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Memphis, TN spends 18% more per resident than Murfreesboro, TN: $22,111 against $18,812. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.
Memphis, TN holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 65/100 (grade B) against 44/100 (grade D) for Murfreesboro, TN — a 21-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Memphis, TN carries the lighter load at $303 per resident versus $2,467 for Murfreesboro, TN. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Memphis, TN leads with parks and recreation at $1,397 per resident, while Murfreesboro, TN leads with education at $7,574.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Memphis, TN and 100% in Murfreesboro, TN.
Summary
Memphis spends 17.5% more per capita than Murfreesboro ($3,299/person difference). Memphis, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 65/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $10 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $496 | $355 |
| Income Tax | $1,218 | $349 |
| Intergovernmental | $34,065 | $27,007 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,077 | $3,562 |
| Other | $3,994 | $40 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $469 | $558 |
| Highways & Roads | $277 | $87 |
| Education | $0 | $7,574 |
| Public Welfare | $630 | $752 |
| Health | $391 | $86 |
| Hospitals | $1,677 | $300 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,397 | $1,074 |
| Housing | $4,683 | $2,655 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $133 |
| Utilities | $2,578 | $2,530 |
| Interest on Debt | $1,158 | $203 |
| Other | $8,850 | $2,861 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.