Murfreesboro, TN, United States

Capital City

With a population of 152,769 as of 2020, Murfreesboro is no sleepy Southern town. This fast-growing suburb of Nashville is a magnet for international students and refugees, thanks to the presence of Middle Tennessee State University, the state's largest undergraduate institution. However, the city's rapid expansion has also brought its share of headaches, including a persistent bureaucratic slog - the city council recently approved a controversial 25-year plan to expand the local greenway system at an estimated cost of $104.8 million. And while the mild, humid climate is generally agreeable, Murfreesboro has been in the path of destructive tornadoes, including a 2009 twister that caused over $40 million in damage. Overall, this bustling, diversifying city offers a more affordable alternative to pricey Nashville, but newcomers should brace for both growth pains and natural disaster risks.