Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fayetteville, AR
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 13 of 23 categories
Fayetteville
Arkansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,881
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
95,022
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.
Fayetteville, AR
Pros
Rent averages $1206/mo less ($944 vs $2,150)
Homes cost $276k less ($291,300 vs $567,700)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 50.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $50,044/yr
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,044 more per year on average
57% less violent crime than Fayetteville
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fayetteville
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fayetteville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fayetteville
Median Home Value
$276k less
$291,300 vs $567,700
Fayetteville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$50,044
$106,925 vs $56,881/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
57% lower
183.7 vs 423.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville, AR | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $291,300 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $944 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,881 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.7% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FAYETTEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.3" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,022 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.2% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fayetteville's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fayetteville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 13 of 23 categories. Fayetteville wins 10 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 Fayetteville to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($291,300 vs $567,700 median home), income ($56,881 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fayetteville, AR and Murrieta, CA are about 1,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.