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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Murfreesboro, TN vs Knoxville, TN

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Murfreesboro spends 4.9% more per capita than Knoxville ($886/person difference). Knoxville, TN has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 51/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Murfreesboro, TN
Pop. 153,487
D
44/100
Budget Balance55
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency68
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50
City B
Knoxville, TN
Pop. 191,857
C
51/100
Budget Balance77
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency74
Revenue Diversity0
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Murfreesboro
Knoxville
Total Spending
$2.9B
$3.4B
Spending / Capita
$18,812
$17,926
Total Revenue
$4.1B
$9.3B
Revenue / Capita
$27,007
$48,542
Total Debt
$378.7M
$350.2M
Debt / Capita
$2,467
$1,825
Population
153,487
191,857
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Murfreesboro$558
Knoxville$258
Highways & Roads
Murfreesboro$87
Knoxville$0
Parks & Recreation
Murfreesboro$1,074
Knoxville$1,708
Education
Murfreesboro$7,574
Knoxville$0
Health
Murfreesboro$86
Knoxville$0

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

MurfreesboroKnoxville
Sales Tax
$355
$748
Income Tax
$349
$115
Intergovernmental
$27,007
$48,542
Charges & Fees
$3,562
$3,851
Other
$40
$6,214

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

MurfreesboroKnoxville
Fire Protection
$558
$258
Highways & Roads
$87
$0
Education
$7,574
$0
Public Welfare
$752
$573
Health
$86
$0
Hospitals
$300
$607
Parks & Recreation
$1,074
$1,708
Housing
$2,655
$3,667
Sewerage
$133
$224
Utilities
$2,530
$2,554
Interest on Debt
$203
$1,080
Other
$2,861
$7,255
D
Murfreesboro, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health
C
Knoxville, TN
Fiscal Health Score: 51/100
Average fiscal health

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