Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Downey, CA
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories
Downey
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,236
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
113,052 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Downey, CA
Pros
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,814 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (460.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Murrieta by $22,689/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $679,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Downey
Households earn $22,689 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $111k less ($567,700 vs $679,000)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Downey
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Downey
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Income
$22,689
$106,925 vs $84,236/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
60% lower
183.7 vs 460.5 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$111k less
$567,700 vs $679,000
Murrieta
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Downey, CA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $679,000⚠ High | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,814⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,236 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.2% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.2% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Downey Unified | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,052 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Downey's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories. Downey 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 Downey to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($679,000 vs $567,700 median home), income ($84,236 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Downey, CA and Murrieta, CA are about 60 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.