Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hillsboro, OR
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 14 of 23 categories
Hillsboro
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,891
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Murrieta
California
14
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.
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($452,300 vs $567,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,797 vs $2,150)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $8,034/yr
Murrieta, CA
Pros
42% less violent crime than Hillsboro
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Households earn $8,034 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Hillsboro
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$115k less
$452,300 vs $567,700
Hillsboro
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
Murrieta
Median Income
$8,034
$106,925 vs $98,891/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
42% lower
183.7 vs 317.7 per 100k
Murrieta
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hillsboro, OR | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,797⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,891 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.4% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hillsboro SD 1J | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,612 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hillsboro's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Hillsboro is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 14 of 23 categories. Hillsboro wins 9 and Murrieta wins 14. 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 Hillsboro to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($452,300 vs $567,700 median home), income ($98,891 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hillsboro, OR and Murrieta, CA are about 880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.