Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $251k less ($316,600 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $854/mo less ($1,296 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $32,215/yr
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Murrieta, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Durham
Households earn $32,215 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 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Durham
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Home Value
$251k less
$316,600 vs $567,700
Durham
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$32,215
$106,925 vs $74,710/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
70% lower
183.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Durham is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $567,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Murrieta, CA are about 2,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.