Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 22 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,925
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.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $167/mo less ($1,983 vs $2,150)
Households earn $6,254 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murrieta, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Alexandria
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $88k less ($567,700 vs $655,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.2%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Median income trails Alexandria by $6,254/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$6,254
$113,179 vs $106,925/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Violent Crime
16% lower
183.7 vs 219.1 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$88k less
$567,700 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $106,925 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 22 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Murrieta wins 10. 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 Alexandria to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $567,700 median home), income ($113,179 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Murrieta, CA are about 2,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.