Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Norman leads 12 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Norman
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,076 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Norman
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($224,900 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $1146/mo less ($1,004 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $44,076/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Median Income
$44,076
$106,925 vs $62,849/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
29% lower
183.7 vs 260.2 per 100k
Norman
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$343k less
$224,900 vs $567,700
Norman
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Norman
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 12 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 11 and Norman 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 Murrieta to Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $224,900 median home), income ($106,925 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Norman, OK are about 1,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.