MURFREESBORO, TN – New data released by the Murfreesboro Police Department paints an encouraging picture for Tennessee’s fastest-growing major city. According to Police Chief Michael Bowen, nearly all major crime categories have declined when adjusted for the city’s rising population.

Before examining the statistics further, WGNS asked Chief Bowen whether the latest figures were tied directly to Murfreesboro’s current population count to ensure accurate comparisons... Bowen confirmed the data is population-adjusted each year and reflects current numbers, offering a clearer understanding of what crime truly looks like in the growing city.

Across the board, trends are largely positive.

Categories including homicide and aggravated assault have declined, according to Bowen... When violent crime indicators trend downward, despite upward swings in the population count, it serves as a reinforcement to what most city leaders across the country would view as a positive community policing. This indicates a collaborative philosophy where law enforcement is working in the direction of building a trust-based partnerships with community members to proactively address the root causes of crime, while also reducing fear, and improving quality of life as a a whole.

However, not every category moved in a favorable direction...

One area that saw a small, but painful increase represents a category that is often associated with long-term trauma and elevated rates of PTSD among victims. Chief Bowen told WGNS... While the numerical rise was not dramatic, officials around the state often acknowledge the life-altering consequences for victims that make even a slight increase significant.

Another unexpected increase appeared in arson cases... Increases in arson-related activity involving intentionally set fires still remain comparatively low, but the upward movement stands out against broader crime reductions.

Crime in the Overall Metro Statistical Area: Broadening the lens, crime trends across the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area also reflect overall improvement.

The Council on Criminal Justice analyzed 35 of the nation’s largest cities and metro areas, including the Nashville MSA.

Between 2019 and 2025:

• Homicides decreased 14.1% in the local MSA (compared to a 19% drop among the 35 cities studied).
• Motor vehicle theft declined 22% in the local MSA.
• Domestic violence cases dropped 37.2% in the local MSA .
• Drug offenses decreased 23.8% in the local MSA.
• Shoplifting fell 19.6% in the local MSA.
• Gun-related criminal activity dropped 38.8% in the local MSA .

Some categories remained unchanged across the metro region during that period, including burglary, robbery, and sexual assault reports.

To better understand the local trend in arson cases in Murfreesboro, which was small, but nonetheless impact for those who suffered the consequences of purposely set fires, it helps to look at the national landscape.

A Closer Look at Arson Cases Nationwide: According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, arson cases nationwide have fluctuated significantly between 2015 and 2024.

Between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2024, total arson cases decreased 2.89% nationwide. During that same 2022–2024 period, the rate per 100,000 residents declined 2.2%.

However, the longer-term picture tells a different story. From 2015 to 2024, arson cases nationally increased nearly 50%. Regionally, the West saw a 34.4% increase, the South followed at 33.2%, the Midwest rose 22.7%, and the Northeast increased 9.6%.

Recent federal reporting indicates that 2022 and 2023 recorded the highest reported arson totals in recent history, followed by a slight decline in 2024.

Federal law defines arson as unlawfully and intentionally damaging or attempting to damage property by fire or incendiary device. Reporting of such offenses is mandated under the Anti-Arson Act of 1982. Most cases are collected through the long-standing Summary Reporting System, while detailed incident-level data is compiled through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Arson by Day of the Week: Nationally, Sundays have historically recorded the highest number of reported arson offenses, with Thursdays seeing the fewest. From 2020 to 2024, residences were the most common location for arson, followed by roadways.

Murfreesboro, TN is a Growing City, with a Stabilized Crime Picture

For Murfreesboro — one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing municipalities — population-adjusted data is critical. Rapid expansion can distort raw numbers, making it essential to evaluate crime rates proportionally.

Chief Bowen’s confirmation that the city’s data reflects current population levels provides reassurance that the decline in most crime categories represents genuine progress rather than statistical illusion.

While arson has ticked upward locally — mirroring longer-term national increases — overall trends across Murfreesboro and the broader metro area show declines in many of the most serious and high-impact crime categories.

For residents in the ‘Boro, the takeaway is largely positive: even as the city grows, most crime metrics are moving in the right direction.

Full details on overall year-end crime in Murfreesboro, TN for 2025 will soon be available on the Murfreesboro Police website. WGNS will post an update to the news story once it is publicly released. 

• Listen to our latest PODCAST with the MPD Chief HERE.