Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 14 of 22 categories
Murrieta
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,036
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
110,358
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Homes cost $146k less ($567,700 vs $714,000)
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $10,889 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.9%)
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,942 vs $2,150)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 87°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $714,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Median income trails Murrieta by $10,889/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Murrieta
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Murrieta
Median Income
$10,889
$106,925 vs $96,036/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
48% lower
183.7 vs 354.5 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$146k less
$567,700 vs $714,000
Murrieta
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 72.9°F
San Buenaventura (Ventura)
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $714,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,942⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $96,036 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 24.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 40.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 91.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Ventura Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 ✓ Larger | 110,358 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 56.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs San Buenaventura (Ventura)'s 113.5 (US average = 100).
Murrieta is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 14 of 22 categories. Murrieta wins 14 and San Buenaventura (Ventura) 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 Murrieta to San Buenaventura (Ventura) or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $714,000 median home), income ($106,925 vs $96,036), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA are about 128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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