Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne side by side: city tax rates, high school grades, Zillow home values, Census incomes and commute times.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Sources: the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury’s 2025 property tax rates, the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates (QuickFacts for Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne), the Zillow Home Value Index, the Tennessee Department of Education’s 2024-25 letter grades, the federal NCES school directory and each city’s website.
Murfreesboro’s two nearest neighbors that are cities are Smyrna, about 10 miles northwest, and La Vergne, about 14 miles northwest, both along I-24 toward Nashville. All three are in Rutherford County, share the county property tax and Rutherford County Schools, and run their own police and fire departments. This page sets the official figures side by side, one table per topic, with the same year for all three.
What this means for you
- City tax rates differ most: Murfreesboro’s 2025 city rate was about 80% higher than Smyrna’s or La Vergne’s, in addition to the same county rate.
- Home values were highest in Murfreesboro in September 2026, according to Zillow.
- Schools: the same county district, with Murfreesboro’s own city district for younger children.
Property taxes
Tennessee taxes homes on 25% of appraised value. The state Comptroller’s table for tax year 2025, the latest year it lists for all three, shows:
| Murfreesboro | Smyrna | La Vergne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City rate per $100 assessed | $0.9526 | $0.5257 | $0.5363 |
| Rutherford County rate | $1.8762 | $1.8762 | $1.8762 |
| Combined rate | $2.8288 | $2.4019 | $2.4125 |
Source: Tennessee Comptroller, 2025 property tax rates.
Rutherford County reappraised every property for 2026, and rates were reset. Murfreesboro’s 2026 city rate is $0.7529, set in Ordinance 26-O-22; see our property taxes guide. La Vergne’s tax department page still listed $0.5363 when we checked. The Comptroller had not posted 2026 rates for the county, Smyrna or La Vergne.
Exemptions: Tennessee has no general homestead exemption in any of the three. The state’s tax relief program and the county’s senior tax freeze apply countywide; details are in our property taxes guide.
City tax rates, 2025
Home values
Zillow’s Home Value Index is a modeled typical value for the middle third of homes, not a sale price.
| Murfreesboro | Smyrna | La Vergne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical value, September 2026 | $424,348 | $400,537 | $345,627 |
| Typical value, September 2025 | $426,518 | $403,666 | $351,642 |
| Change over the year | -0.5% | -0.8% | -1.7% |
Typical home values, September 2026
People, incomes and commutes
From the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates, the same vintage for all three:
| Murfreesboro | Smyrna | La Vergne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 161,445 | 56,692 | 40,243 |
| Median household income | $80,108 | $81,926 | $81,313 |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $402,100 | $358,300 | $309,900 |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.7 minutes | 26.3 minutes | 31.6 minutes |
QuickFacts pages: Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne. The Census home value is what owners estimate; it differs from Zillow’s model.
Schools
Rutherford County Schools runs the public schools in all three cities. Murfreesboro also has Murfreesboro City Schools, which teaches pre-K to sixth grade in part of the city; see our schools guide. Zones cross city lines, so a Smyrna or Murfreesboro address can be zoned for a high school in the other city.
High schools located in each city, according to the NCES school directory, with the state’s 2024-25 letter grades:
| City | High school | 2024-25 grade |
|---|---|---|
| Murfreesboro | Blackman High | B |
| Murfreesboro | Central Magnet School (magnet) | A |
| Murfreesboro | Oakland High | A |
| Murfreesboro | Riverdale High | A |
| Murfreesboro | Siegel High | A |
| Smyrna | Smyrna High | C |
| Smyrna | Stewarts Creek High | A |
| La Vergne | LaVergne High | C |
A letter grade is one measure; each school’s state report card shows test results, growth and college readiness.
City services
| Murfreesboro | Smyrna | La Vergne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government | City Council | Town Council | Board of Mayor and Aldermen |
| Police | Murfreesboro Police Department | Smyrna Police Department | La Vergne Police Department |
| Fire | Murfreesboro Fire Rescue | Smyrna Fire Department | La Vergne Fire Department |
Homes outside all three cities are covered by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Murfreesboro collects household trash weekly from a city cart; see our trash guide.
How to check an address
- Which city a parcel is in, and its appraised value: the Rutherford County Property Assessor, 615-898-7750, or its website.
- School zone: Rutherford County Schools’ zone map; for Murfreesboro City Schools, the WebQuery lookup.
- Your tax bill: multiply the assessed value (25% of appraisal) by the combined rate and divide by 100, or ask the city tax office and the Rutherford County Trustee, 615-898-7705.
For areas inside Murfreesboro, see our neighborhoods guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which has lower property taxes, Murfreesboro, Smyrna or La Vergne?
For tax year 2025, the state Comptroller lists city rates of $0.9526 per $100 of assessed value in Murfreesboro, $0.5257 in Smyrna and $0.5363 in La Vergne. All three also pay the Rutherford County rate of $1.8762.
Are home values higher in Murfreesboro or Smyrna?
Zillow’s typical home value in September 2026 was $424,348 in Murfreesboro, $400,537 in Smyrna and $345,627 in La Vergne. All three were lower than in September 2025.
Do Smyrna and La Vergne use Rutherford County Schools?
Yes. Rutherford County Schools serves all three cities. Murfreesboro also has Murfreesboro City Schools for pre-K to sixth grade in part of the city.
How long is the commute from Murfreesboro, Smyrna and La Vergne?
The Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 survey puts the mean travel time to work at 26.7 minutes in Murfreesboro, 26.3 minutes in Smyrna and 31.6 minutes in La Vergne.
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