Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, AZ
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 12 of 22 categories
Glendale
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,375
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
248,083 ✓ 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.
Glendale, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $258k less ($310,000 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $882/mo less ($1,268 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $40,550/yr
Violent crime (488.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2670.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,550 more per year on average
62% less violent crime than Glendale
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Glendale
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Glendale
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Glendale
Median Home Value
$258k less
$310,000 vs $567,700
Glendale
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Glendale
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 104.9°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$40,550
$106,925 vs $66,375/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
62% lower
183.7 vs 488.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, AZ | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $310,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,268 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,375 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 128⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.6% | 29.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.2" ✓ Drier | 13.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 248,083 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.2% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Glendale is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 12 of 22 categories. Glendale wins 10 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 Glendale to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($310,000 vs $567,700 median home), income ($66,375 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, AZ and Murrieta, CA are about 288 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.