Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 13 of 22 categories
Edinburg
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71
Population
100,964
Murrieta
California
13
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.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
Homes cost $408k less ($159,600 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1230/mo less ($920 vs $2,150)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $52,786/yr
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $52,786 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Edinburg
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Edinburg
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Median Home Value
$408k less
$159,600 vs $567,700
Edinburg
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.7°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$52,786
$106,925 vs $54,139/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
32% lower
183.7 vs 269.6 per 100k
Murrieta
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.7% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 13 of 22 categories. Edinburg wins 9 and Murrieta wins 13. 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 Edinburg to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $567,700 median home), income ($54,139 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Murrieta, CA are about 1,242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.