Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $482k less ($86,200 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1320/mo less ($830 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Smaller class sizes — 17.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $65,482/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.7%)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $65,482 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (6.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
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 16% higher than Dayton
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$482k less
$86,200 vs $567,700
Murrieta
Median Income
$65,482
$106,925 vs $41,443/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
86% lower
183.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Murrieta
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
6.7% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Murrieta wins 16. 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 Dayton to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $567,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Murrieta, CA are about 1,867 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.