Murfreesboro TN Home Tour - Three Bedrooms Down and No City Taxes - Where to Live In Nashville
Aug 20, 2026
Guide updated August 2026
“Tennessee's Fastest-Growing City”
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The quick answer
Murfreesboro is the Rutherford County seat, about 35-45 minutes southeast of Nashville along I-24, with a median home price of $405,000 (June 2026, Redfin closed) and inventory from roughly $250K to $1.5M. It has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country for over a decade, anchored by Middle Tennessee State University and a large manufacturing and healthcare base. Pricing runs below the Nashville core across most product types, from resale starter homes to new-construction neighborhoods.
Murfreesboro is a phenomenon. It has been one of America's fastest-growing cities for over a decade, driven by Middle Tennessee State University, a booming manufacturing and healthcare sector, and home prices that remain significantly below Nashville. The city offers everything a major suburban market should — diverse retail, a growing dining scene, and an arts and culture scene centered around MTSU's programs. Murfreesboro is served by Murfreesboro City Schools (K–6 inside the city core) and Rutherford County Schools (everything else); for specific ratings, GreatSchools.org and the Tennessee Department of Education report cards are the authoritative sources. Real estate in Murfreesboro offers some of the best value in Middle Tennessee, with a wide range of options from affordable starter homes to luxury new-construction neighborhoods. For investors, Murfreesboro's population growth and MTSU's 21,000+ student enrollment are factors worth evaluating, though rental returns vary by property and can't be guaranteed. The city's strategic location along I-24 gives residents access to both Nashville and Chattanooga.
What's changing in Murfreesboro
Updated July 2026A roughly $150 million public-private redevelopment is rebuilding a seven-acre stretch of downtown Murfreesboro's Broad Street into apartments, for-sale condos, retail, and a hotel.
Project Keystone is the largest development currently reshaping downtown Murfreesboro. It is proposed by Brentwood-based developer HRP Residential, with a development team that includes Matt Taylor of SEC, architect Bart Klein, John Hardy, Todd Sieffert, and the Hillsboro Development Group. The project has been reported at roughly $150 million in total capital investment (one council update cited a figure as high as $175 million; the city manager has described it publicly as a $150 million project that includes about $26 million in public infrastructure). It covers about seven acres of city-owned land running along Broad Street between Church and Vine. The Murfreesboro City Council voted on October 2, 2025 to approve the phased development, a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) agreement through the Industrial Development Board, and a purchase-and-sale agreement, on a majority vote with two members opposed. The developer is purchasing the first two sections from the city for roughly $4.4 million ($3 million for Section 1 and $1.4 million for Section 2), and those proceeds are earmarked for public road improvements.
The development is structured in three phases. Phase I, about two-thirds of the project, includes up to 239 multifamily (leased) dwellings, roughly 26,000 square feet (about 70 percent) of the planned retail, and structured parking, and is envisioned for completion by the end of 2028. Phase II adds roughly 80 to 100 for-sale condominiums with a second parking garage. Phase III is a hotel (reported in the range of 80 to 150 rooms, with one update citing 115) on a parcel that remains city-owned under a purchase option, with closing reported for late 2029 and completion targeted around 2031. The start of the project hinges on relocating the 4,500-square-foot WGNS radio station to the corner of Sevier and Church streets by October 2026; closing on the city property and demolition are not expected to begin until January 2027, and per the development agreement Phase I is anticipated to begin in the third quarter of 2026.
Separately, the city is advancing the Town Creek Daylighting Project, an approximately $22.5 million public-infrastructure effort along the west side of Broad Street between South Church Street and Cannonsburgh Village. It is uncovering a creek long buried in 1950s-era concrete culverts and bringing the water back above ground, adding green space, walking trails, and greenway connections. That construction was well underway as of January 2026 and was reported as expected to be completed in late 2026. The two projects run along the same downtown corridor. Note that reported figures for Keystone have varied across council updates as designs are finalized, with unit counts, retail square footage, hotel size, and total investment cited in ranges, and timelines that have shifted as phases were approved.
For buyers and out-of-state relocators weighing downtown Murfreesboro, Keystone reflects a planned shift from a primarily government-and-retail city center toward a denser mixed-use core with rental apartments, for-sale condos, ground-floor retail, and a hotel near the historic square and MTSU. The project is in its early phases, so the streetscape and available housing are expected to change in stages over the rest of the decade.
Murfreesboro's growth has drawn a steady run of new dining, drinking, and retail openings, concentrated around Medical Center Parkway, The Avenue, Memorial Boulevard, and the downtown square. Several larger projects, including a Buc-ee's travel center off Interstate 24, are scheduled to open later in 2026.
Combination coffee shop and boutique from the Bible-customization brand, at 214 W. Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro. The shop sells coffee alongside Bibles and gift items.
Coffee · opened July 2026
Canadian coffee and baked-goods chain at 1911 Lascassas Pike, the company's first Murfreesboro location. The drive-thru location serves coffee, Timbits, and breakfast items daily from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Coffee · opened June 2026
Locally owned drive-thru location of the specialty-coffee chain at 1803 Memorial Blvd, serving espresso drinks, real-fruit smoothies, whole-leaf teas, and grab-and-go food. Owned and operated by Scott and Anita Findlay.
Coffee · opened June 2026
Cajun and Creole restaurant from the Nashville-based concept, located at 1306 Westlawn Blvd, Suite B1. The menu includes chicken-and-sausage gumbo, crawfish and shrimp etouffee, and po'boys, with rotating draft beers from Tennessee and Louisiana breweries.
Restaurant · opened 2026
Pittsburgh-based shop serving hand-spun milkshakes, sundaes, and small-batch chocolates. This is the brand's first Tennessee location, at The Avenue, 2615 Medical Center Pkwy, Suite 2390. Locally owned by franchise partners Jill and Kyle Mason.
Restaurant · opened February 2026
Western wear and boot retailer at 1979 Old Fort Pkwy, the chain's fifth Tennessee store. The 12,000-square-foot store carries boots, hats, jeans, and work apparel, with in-store boot fitting and hat shaping.
Retail · opened February 2026
The California burger chain at 2508 Medical Center Parkway, its third Tennessee restaurant.
Restaurant · opened December 2025
Chicago-based Italian beef restaurant serving Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers, and salads, with an Original Rainbow Cone ice cream counter inside. Located at 2724 Roby Corlew Lane, near The Avenue.
Restaurant · opened September 2025
Taqueria at 1813 Memorial Blvd, in the former Clay Pit space next to Little Caesars, from the team behind Casa Adobe Express. The kitchen focuses on Jalisco-style cooking and street-style tacos.
Restaurant · opened 2025
Outlet apparel store at The Avenue outdoor shopping center, 2615 Medical Center Parkway.
Retail · opened 2025
Mediterranean fast-casual chain serving build-your-own bowls, pitas, and salads. Located at 2634 Medical Center Parkway, Suite A.
Restaurant · opened July 2024
Tennessee craft brewery's Murfreesboro taproom at 210 Stones River Mall Blvd, with about 30 of its craft beers, ciders, and seltzers on draft plus a pizza-focused kitchen. The location has both a covered patio and an open patio.
Bar / Brewery · opened June 2024
Casual restaurant and bar from Bluegrass Hospitality Group at 2614 Roby Corlew Ln, serving burgers, sushi, and more than 20 craft beers on tap. Weekend brunch is also served.
Restaurant · opened 2024
Women's clothing, shoes, and accessories boutique at The Avenue, 2615 Medical Center Parkway. Owned by Stephanie and David Brackins.
Retail · opened March 2024
Louisiana-based breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain, planned for The Avenue at 2615 Medical Center Parkway, in the former Genghis Grill space near Barnes & Noble. The location is being opened by franchisee Max Coyle.
Restaurant · opening August 2026
Internationally inspired bistro built around food cooked over fire and flavored with smoke, from Murfreesboro native and Hell's Kitchen Season 21 winner Alex Belew and Nashville pitmaster Shane Nasby. Planned for The Fountains at 1440 Medical Center Pkwy, Suite 1C, with a full bar and a seasonally rotating menu.
Restaurant · opening 2026
Microbrewery planned for about 3,630 square feet at 401 W. Lytle St., at the corner of North Front Street, from homebrewers Jeff Bellamy, Brent Fagan, and Nowell Robbins. Plans include a brewhouse visible from the taproom and an outdoor patio; it would be the first brewery in Murfreesboro's downtown core.
Bar / Brewery · opening 2026
Texas-based travel center under construction off Interstate 24 at the Joe B. Jackson Parkway exit. Plans call for a store of about 74,000 square feet with 120 fueling positions, 490 car parking spaces, and 15 RV and bus spaces, along with roughly 250 full-time jobs.
New spot · opening late 2026
Southern-style steakhouse from Nashville-based 4Top Hospitality, planned as a 6,600-square-foot restaurant at The Exchange development, 2305 Exchange Drive near Medical Center Parkway. Plans include steaks and seafood, a wine list recognized by Wine Spectator, a piano bar with nightly jazz musicians in conjunction with the Nashville Jazz Workshop, and private dining space.
Restaurant · opening 2027
We document 26 new-construction communities in Murfreesboro — builders, floor plans, amenities, and what each one is actually like on the ground. Buyer representation on new construction comes at little or no cost to you.
Choosing an agent in Murfreesboro
A practical, data-grounded framework for choosing a real estate agent in Murfreesboro, TN — what to check, what to ask, and how The Will Johnson Team's verified credentials and new-construction focus fit that framework.
Figures reviewed July 2026. We pull current, address-level comparables before any offer.
Ask Will About Murfreesboro Free Home ValuationReal Listings · Real Walk-Throughs
Every home tour we've filmed in Murfreesboro. Watch the ones that catch your eye and use them to calibrate what your budget actually buys.
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Where You'd Love to Live · The 3-Minute Quiz
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The median home price in Murfreesboro is approximately $405,000 (as of June 2026, Redfin closed), with homes ranging from $250K – $1.5M.
Murfreesboro is approximately 35-45 minutes from downtown Nashville. Exact commute time depends on traffic and your specific destination.
One of America's fastest-growing cities — MTSU, affordability, and a booming economy make it Middle Tennessee's powerhouse.... It's commonly a fit for Value buyers and Investors.
Areas commonly searched in Murfreesboro include Barfield Crescent, Blackman area, Cason Grove, Indian Hills. Each offers a different balance of price, amenities, and lifestyle, and we can pull recent comparable sales so you decide what fits.
The Will Johnson Team (eXp Realty) works Murfreesboro regularly — a 5.0-rated team on Google and Zillow, RealTrends Verified 2026, licensed in Tennessee since 2013, and quoted as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal. Call 615-265-1000 — the first conversation carries no commitment.
Relocating from out of state?
Murfreesboro is a common landing spot for out-of-state movers. Our origin-city relocation guides break down 2026 prices, taxes, and commute from Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, the Bay Area, Florida, and more.
Living Guide
One of America's fastest-growing cities, home to MTSU, and 35 minutes from downtown Nashville. Here's the honest read on what living in Murfreesboro actually looks like in 2026.
10 min readBest Of
Murfreesboro's a college town, a Civil War battlefield, and one of America's fastest-growing cities all at once. Here's the honest local guide to where residents actually spend their time.
8 min readBuyer's Guide
Murfreesboro stretches from $200K starter homes to $1.5M+ rural estates — with strong investment math on the lower end. Here's the honest breakdown of what each band buys and the gotchas we walk every buyer through.
9 min readSumner County
$280K – $3M+
Williamson County
$1,444,136–$1,600,000
Williamson County
$925,000
Sumner County
$452,000
Side-by-side pages — price (a median where we can source one, a range where the public aggregators disagree), drive time, character, and the trade-offs a single town page can't show you. Each one is a dated snapshot, not a prediction.
Pick Murfreesboro and any other Middle TN area to see them side-by-side: median price, drive time, walk score, lifestyle character.

About the authors
Will Johnson leads The Will Johnson Team at eXp Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Middle Tennessee — Nashville, Hendersonville, Gallatin, Sumner County, Brentwood, Franklin, Mount Juliet, Murfreesboro and the surrounding communities. A U.S. Army veteran who served 14 years and rose to the rank of Major, and a former ICU nurse and nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who graduated with a 4.0 from MTSA, he has been licensed in Tennessee since 2013 (license #330494); as of 2026 the team has closed $27.7 million in volume across 64 transactions. The team holds a 5.0 rating on Google and Zillow, is RealTrends Verified 2026, has been featured as an expert source by CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal, and can be reached at 615-265-1000.
Equal Housing Opportunity · Licensed in Tennessee and regulated by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TN #330494) · The Will Johnson Team is affiliated with eXp Realty · This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.