Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Murrieta
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48
Population
111,899
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($158,700 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1195/mo less ($955 vs $2,150)
18% less violent crime than Murrieta
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $50,599/yr
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $50,599 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than McAllen
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
18% lower
150.0 vs 183.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$409k less
$158,700 vs $567,700
McAllen
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$50,599
$106,925 vs $56,326/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% | 13.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 111,899 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 15 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 15 and Murrieta wins 8. 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 McAllen to Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $567,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Murrieta, CA are about 1,241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.