Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Murrieta
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Rent averages $487/mo less ($1,663 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $73k less ($494,700 vs $567,700)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $18,026/yr
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murrieta, CA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Beaverton
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,026 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.9%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$73k less
$494,700 vs $567,700
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$18,026
$106,925 vs $88,899/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
50% lower
183.7 vs 364.8 per 100k
Murrieta
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 12 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 12 and Murrieta wins 11. 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 Beaverton to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $567,700 median home), income ($88,899 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Murrieta, CA are about 875 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.