2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Murrieta, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

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Highlights
Are people in Santa Barbara older or younger than people in Murrieta?
- The Median Age in Santa Barbara is 4.1 years older than in Murrieta.

Are housing costs cheaper in Santa Barbara or Murrieta?
- Santa Barbara housing costs are 154.1% more expensive than Murrieta housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Santa Barbara or Murrieta?
- The average commute for residents of Santa Barbara is 18.9 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Murrieta.

Things to do in Murrieta?
Murrieta, California is a picturesque city located in Riverside County. With year-round sunshine and mild temperatures, Murrieta provides the perfect environment to explore the great outdoors or simply relax. The city is home to some of the best shopping and dining options in the area as well as unique cultural attractions such as the Diamond Valley Lake Marine Preserve. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventure or peaceful relaxation, Murrieta has something to offer everyone!

Things to do in Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara, California has something for everyone - from fantastic beaches to world-class shopping and dining experiences. Visitors can explore Old Mission Santa Barbara or take part in various water activities around Stearns Wharf.

 Murrieta, CASanta Barbara, CAUnited States
 Population  Unlock89,132329,725,481
 Median Income$98,466  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock39.138.4
 Avg. Home Price$600,300  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock4.1%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time36.09  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Murrieta    39 Reviews

Paul · 
Over 2 years ago

Very expensive to rent here. Many apartments in Murrieta charge as much as $2,300 for a single bedroom. But this is California, so maybe it’s cheaper than LA or Orange  More

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I moved here for my wife's job. It's a cookie cutter middle class community that costs 2-3 times as much as Texas. Homes aren't custom. They are tract homes on small  More

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George · 

A great place to live and raise a family. It’s a quintessential bedroom community. Very safe. Violent crime is a rarity here. Property crime is very low here too.  More

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Reviews for Santa Barbara    51 Reviews

I moved to Santa Barbara around 23 years ago to study at Brooks, which like most of the Santa Barbara that I knew—has been destroyed. Homelessness, drugs, gangs, high  More

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Over 4 years ago

I fell in love with Santa Barbara about thirty years ago and finally moved here a few years ago. Because of the price of homes, it is an expensive place to live. The  More

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If you like high crime, paying a $4,500 a month mortgage and crazy high taxes, this is the place for you. It’s too bad because it wasn’t always like this. When I moved  More

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