Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219
Violent Crime Index
76
Population
194,512 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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, CA
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $148/mo less ($2,002 vs $2,150)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Median income trails Murrieta by $25,706/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.7%)
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Homes cost $424k less ($567,700 vs $992,000)
36% less violent crime than Glendale
Households earn $25,706 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.7%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Cons
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Income
$25,706
$106,925 vs $81,219/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
36% lower
183.7 vs 287.2 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$424k less
$567,700 vs $992,000
Murrieta
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale 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 Glendale to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $567,700 median home), income ($81,219 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Murrieta, CA are about 74 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.