Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $34,903 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 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($382,100 vs $567,700)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($1,472 vs $2,150)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Murrieta
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $34,903/yr
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Median Income
$34,903
$106,925 vs $72,022/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
61% lower
183.7 vs 470.3 per 100k
Tempe
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$186k less
$382,100 vs $567,700
Tempe
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Tempe
Summer Heat
18.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $72,022 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 8 and Tempe wins 15. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $382,100 median home), income ($106,925 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Tempe, AZ are about 303 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.