Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories
Murrieta
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
39% less violent crime than Tracy
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Homes cost $50k less ($567,700 vs $617,300)
More college-educated — 29.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails Tracy by $4,792/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Households earn $4,792 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Violent Crime
39% lower
183.7 vs 301.4 per 100k
Murrieta
Median Home Value
$50k less
$567,700 vs $617,300
Tracy
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 107.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tracy
Median Income
$4,792
$111,717 vs $106,925/yr
Tracy
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.7% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 87.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 107.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 11.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 22.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Tracy is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Murrieta leads 16 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 16 and Tracy wins 7. 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $617,300 median home), income ($106,925 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Tracy, CA are about 374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.