2026 Compare Cities Job Market:
Santa Maria, CA vs Murrieta, CA

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Highlights
- Job Growth in Murrieta has been positive.
- Murrieta has 5.6% more unemployment than Santa Maria.
- Murrieta job growth has increased by 18.5% in the past 10 years.
 Santa Maria, CAMurrieta, CAUnited States
 Current Unemployment  Unlock6.0%6.0%
 Future Job Growth24.9%  Unlock33.5%
 Recent Job Growth  Unlock-5.8%-6.2%
 3 Yr. Job Growth-1.9%  Unlock-3.6%
 5 Yr. Job Growth  Unlock4.7%-0.7%
 10 Yr. Job Growth7.1%  Unlock6.3%
Reviews for Santa Maria    12 Reviews

Over 7 years ago

I live in Orcutt which is a town of around 35,000 on the south side of Santa Maria. Santa Maria has, as everyone has noted, the best climate in the world. It never  More

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I have lived in Santa Maria / Orcutt for several years, but it is time to leave. I have no issues with the weather. Our climate is mild and comfortable with no extremes.  More

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The weather is very mild without a huge temperature change with the seasons. The winters are chilly but not cold and the summers are warm but not hot. Of course there  More

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Reviews for Murrieta    39 Reviews

Paul · 
Over 3 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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