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Chattanooga vs Murfreesboro for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Chattanooga, TN and Murfreesboro, TN — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Chattanooga wins 4–3 across key metrics
Chattanooga leads on cash flow (4.29% vs 3.75% cap rate) · Murfreesboro leads on population growth
Metric
Chattanooga, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
Est. Cap Rate
4.29%
3.75%
Median Home Price
$270,000
$340,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,340
$1,520
1% Rule
0.50%
0.45%
GRM
16.8x
18.6x
Price / Income
5.6x
5.8x
Property Tax Rate
0.54%
0.55%
Vacancy Rate
5.4%
5%
Population Growth
1% / yr
2.5% / yr
Annual Appreciation
3.3%
3.5%
Population
185,881
165,600
Median Income
$48,200
$58,200

Chattanooga vs Murfreesboro: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Chattanooga has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 4.29% compared to Murfreesboro's 3.75%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $270,000 in Chattanooga vs $340,000 in Murfreesboro, while rents come in at $1,340/mo and $1,520/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Murfreesboro is growing faster at 2.5% annually vs Chattanooga's 1%. Murfreesboro leads on home value appreciation at 3.5% per year. Strong population growth typically translates to sustained rental demand and long-term price support.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.54% in Chattanooga vs 0.55% in Murfreesboro. Vacancy rates of 5.4% and 5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.

Bottom line: Chattanooga edges out Murfreesboro on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 4.29%, Chattanooga's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Chattanooga or Murfreesboro.

Chattanooga, TN
4.29% cap rate · $270,000 median · $1,340/mo
Full analysis →
Murfreesboro, TN
3.75% cap rate · $340,000 median · $1,520/mo
Full analysis →
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