Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($383,000 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $686/mo less ($1,464 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $27,899/yr
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Murrieta, CA
Pros
74% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Households earn $27,899 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 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Colorado Springs
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$185k less
$383,000 vs $567,700
Colorado Springs
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$27,899
$106,925 vs $79,026/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
74% lower
183.7 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $567,700 median home), income ($79,026 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Murrieta, CA are about 783 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.