Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Murrieta, CA
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach 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
Population
111,899
Virginia Beach
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Murrieta, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,381 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Virginia Beach
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($343,700 vs $567,700)
50% less violent crime than Murrieta
Rent averages $582/mo less ($1,568 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Murrieta by $19,381/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Murrieta
Median Income
$19,381
$106,925 vs $87,544/yr
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
50% lower
92.3 vs 183.7 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Median Home Value
$224k less
$343,700 vs $567,700
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Murrieta, CA | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $567,700⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,150⚠ High | $1,568⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,925 ✓ Higher | $87,544 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.0 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.9% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Murrieta Valley Unified | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.2°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.9" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,899 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.5% ✓ Higher | 64.6% |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Murrieta's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Murrieta wins 8 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($567,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($106,925 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Murrieta, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are about 2,317 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.