Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Akron, OH
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 14 of 23 categories
Akron
Ohio
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,596
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
190,273 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Akron, OH
Pros
Homes cost $468k less ($99,700 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1263/mo less ($887 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Smaller class sizes — 13.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $60,329/yr
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2955.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.7%)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $60,329 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Akron
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.7%)
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Akron
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Akron
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Akron
Median Home Value
$468k less
$99,700 vs $567,700
Murrieta
Median Income
$60,329
$106,925 vs $46,596/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
78% lower
183.7 vs 820.3 per 100k
Murrieta
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Akron, OH | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $99,700 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $887 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,596 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 141⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Akron City | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.1°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.5" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 190,273 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Akron's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Akron is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 14 of 23 categories. Akron wins 9 and Murrieta wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Akron to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($99,700 vs $567,700 median home), income ($46,596 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Akron, OH and Murrieta, CA are about 2,012 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.