Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories
Chico
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Murrieta
California
12
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
Rent averages $790/mo less ($1,360 vs $2,150)
Homes cost $140k less ($427,600 vs $567,700)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $40,993/yr
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Murrieta, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Chico
Households earn $40,993 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Chico
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Chico
Median Home Value
$140k less
$427,600 vs $567,700
Chico
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$40,993
$106,925 vs $65,932/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
74% lower
183.7 vs 699.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Chico is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories. Chico wins 11 and Murrieta wins 12. 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 Chico to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $567,700 median home), income ($65,932 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Murrieta, CA are about 498 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.