Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gilbert, AZ
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Gilbert leads 19 of 23 categories
Gilbert
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
28% less violent crime than Murrieta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.5%)
Homes cost $113k less ($454,300 vs $567,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $311/mo less ($1,839 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Gilbert
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$8,254
$115,179 vs $106,925/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
28% lower
132.2 vs 183.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$113k less
$454,300 vs $567,700
Gilbert
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.7% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gilbert, AZ | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,839⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,179 ✓ Higher | $106,925 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.5% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 39 ✓ Safer | 47 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.1% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 96.3% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gilbert Unified District (4239) | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.8" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 267,267 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 67.5% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gilbert's cost of living index is 102.5 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Gilbert is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 19 of 23 categories. Gilbert wins 19 and Murrieta wins 4. 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 Gilbert to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $567,700 median home), income ($115,179 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gilbert, AZ and Murrieta, CA are about 315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.