Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Pasadena
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($567,700 vs $981,600)
62% less violent crime than Pasadena
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $9,107 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.2%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.2%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 21.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2696.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Income
$9,107
$106,925 vs $97,818/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
62% lower
183.7 vs 480.4 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$414k less
$567,700 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Pasadena, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $2,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $97,818 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pasadena leads 13 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 10 and Pasadena 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 Murrieta to Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $981,600 median home), income ($106,925 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Pasadena, CA are about 68 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.