Lupine Field, 2022
Murrieta’s story
102 years in pictures
Census counts: 1,628 in 1990, 110,949 in 2020. The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2022 and 3 maps from 1942 on.
- 1924Murrieta is settled
Population
114,124
2025 Census estimate · +2.8% since 2020
Typical home
$686K
+0.5% in a year
Household income
$114K
median
Median age
36.6
years
Jobs based here
29,946
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#202 of 841 in CA
What is it like to live in Murrieta?
Murrieta is a city of 114,124, and it grades B− overall, 202nd of 841 graded towns in California. Its public schools beat 78% of California towns on state tests and graduation. The trade-offs: homes are expensive, about $686K for a typical one and 7.7 times the Riverside metro’s $90K median household income, and FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 84% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. Murrieta’s average trip to work is 37 minutes, above both California’s towns (28 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Murrieta's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) trails 88% of U.S. towns. Warm Springs, at 547 acres with 8.4 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Murrieta stand out
Where Murrieta beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
A commuter town
87% of working residents leave Murrieta for work
Where Murrieta’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
29,946jobs based in Murrieta
13%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Murrieta grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within California), ordered by how far Murrieta is from typical.
Cost of livingD−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listDOpen →SchoolsA−Open →HealthSouthwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital 1.1 miles awayB+Open →Jobs & incomeB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.6 of 20; 2.7% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →SafetyB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors11% conserved landAOpen →History10 notable people born hereDOpen →Civic life1.5 library visits per resident; 2.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsDOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 93° summer afternoons–Open →Housing market$686K typical home, up 0.5% in a year; 36 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 36.6–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Murrieta: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Murrieta, and how to reach them.
PowerSouthern California Edison31.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEastern Municipal WD water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown site
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereRiverside Registrar of VotersRiverside County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes92562, 9256392562 55% · 92563 45%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Murrieta.
Murrieta fares better on crime within California than nationally, has a longer frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
OutdoorsA
Conserved land covers 11.2% of Murrieta
70 miles of trail in 53 parks and preserves. Murrieta’s trail density is 2.0 miles per square mile.
#161for trails in CA
11.2%
conserved · 2,536 of 22,589 acres
70 mi
of trails · 2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Warm Springs | 8.4 mi | 547 |
| 2. Cole Canyon Natural Park | 3.2 mi | 152 |
| 3. Los Alamos Hills Sports Park | 3.1 mi | 182 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
Murrieta’s grade for schools is an A−
Its public schools are run by the Murrieta Valley Unified school district. Two of its 26 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
78%of CA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson MiddleLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,565 | – |
| Vista Murrieta HighLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 3,328 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within CA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade D
Very high risk in Murrieta, with inland flooding at the top
Since 1993, 8 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Murrieta.
84risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesWildfire
8
paid flood claims since 1993
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Murrieta has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
The average commute for its 42,064 working residents takes 37.4 minutes, against 28.7 across California. Jobs based here grew from 20,423 in 2013 to 29,946.
Most working residents leave Murrieta for work: only 13% work in town. The median household income in Murrieta is $114,000. Jobs based in Murrieta grew to 29,946 in 2023, 9,523 more than in 2013.
13%work in town
| Murrieta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $114,000 | $95,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 17% | 14% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 6.6% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Murrieta13%
Temecula13%
San Diego8%
Los Angeles4%
Riverside3%
30 mi
median commute distance
29,946
jobs based in Murrieta
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 69% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
On CDC estimates, Murrieta is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns
Against the 6,587 U.S. towns with household incomes like Murrieta’s, it is less healthy than 51%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Murrieta beats the California average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 73% of Murrieta adults had a checkup this year.
74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| Murrieta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 72% | 79% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 11% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 12% | 12% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 36% |
32 measures vs. California
11 better18 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Murrieta | CA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.5% | 10.6% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 13.7% | 17.9% |
| More adults with obesity | 33.4% | 27.8% |
Southwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital
1.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: dental
64th
percentile among CA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Murrieta
The Elsinore weather station, 12 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 329 days, longer than in 96% of U.S. towns. The Elsinore weather station, 12 miles away, records that about 123 days a year reach 90°, more than in 98% of U.S. towns.
Murrieta has warm winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 92°, January nights drop to 42° and snow is almost unheard of.
93°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter42–67°
Spring48–74°
Summer59–90°
Fall52–82°
Dec 18
typical first frost
Jan 28
typical last frost
+2.2°
vs. the 20th-century average
93°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More children than California overall
Children under 18 are 26% of residents (22% statewide). Murrieta has grown 2.8% since 2020, to 114,124 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 33% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 37% across California.
36.6median age · CA 37.9
| Murrieta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 26% | 22% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 16% | 18% |
| Median age | 36.6 years | 39.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 33% | 29% | 29% |
MurrietaCaliforniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school22%
Some college28%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
52.1% women, 47.9% men
About 92 men for every 100 women. Across California, 50.1% of residents are women. Median age: women 37.9, men 35.4.
| Murrieta | CA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.5% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 12.8% | 10.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 9.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 12.3% | 14.8% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.6% | 13.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12% | 12.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.8% | 12.1% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 6.9% | 9.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.7% | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| High school | 22.4% | 20.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.8% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.5% | 7.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.1% | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.5% | 14.4% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HousingCost of living grade D−
Murrieta’s grade for cost of living is a D−
The typical Murrieta home is worth about $686,000, about the same as a year ago, 10% below the California typical home. 59% of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent in Murrieta.
$686KZillow home value
| Murrieta | California towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,388 a month | $1,895 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 59% | 55% | 48% |
| Households that own their home | 70% | 64% | 73% |
Typical home value
Murrieta$686K
California$762K
Market temperature
36
days on market
99.5%
sale-to-list price
+0.5%
value change, 1 year
92
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SafetyB−
Less crime per resident in Murrieta than in 53% of U.S. towns
At 17.2 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 82% of California’s graded towns. Reported crimes fell from 1,595 to 1,161 over the last three FBI years, a drop beyond ordinary year-to-year swings.
53%of U.S. towns report more crimeB−Safety Grade
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Murrieta1.9
California4.4
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Murrieta8.4
California18.2
U.S.15.5
53rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
82nd
percentile among CA towns
212
violent crimes reported in 2025
949
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Murrieta
20pages on Murrieta
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 78% of CA districts · 26 schoolsSafetyB−1.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB+Better than CA on 11 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD−$686K typical home · up 0.5% in a yearWork & commuteB+$114K median household income · 29,946 jobs hereNatural hazardsDFEMA risk higher than 84% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Murrieta
About 8 of every 100 Murrieta residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California.
Famous people from Murrieta
10 notable people were born in Murrieta.
S
Sierra RomeroAmerican softball player · born 1994
About Murrieta
City in California, United States
Murrieta is a city in the Inland Empire region of southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The population of Murrieta was 110,949 as of the 2020 census. Murrieta experienced a 133.7% population increase between 2000 and 2010, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the state during that period. Largely residential, Murrieta is typically characterized as a bedroom community. Murrieta is bordered by the city of Temecula to the south, the cities of Menifee and Wildomar to the north, and the unincorporated community of French Valley to the east. Murrieta is at the center of the Los Angeles-San Diego mega-region. Murrieta is named for Juan Murrieta, a Californio ranchero …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1991
- Area
- 34 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,096 ft
- ZIP code
- 92562, 92563, 92564
- Area code
- 951
Murrieta’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Murrieta.
WildomarFrench ValleyTemeculaMenifeeMurrieta
How the neighbors grade
| Town | CA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murrieta | #202 | B− | D− | B− | A− | B+ |
| Wildomar | #487 | C− | D | B− | B− | B− |
| French Valley | #198 | B− | D− | — | A− | A− |
| Temecula | #243 | C+ | D− | C+ | A− | A− |
| Menifee | #449 | C− | D− | B | B | B− |
French Valley reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare Murrieta with a neighbor →
Questions about Murrieta
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Murrieta, CA a good place to live?
Murrieta grades B− overall, better than 50% of U.S. towns and #202 of 841 in California. It grades B+ for health, B− for safety and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
What is Murrieta, CA known for?
10 notable people were born here, including Rickie Fowler and Tyler Wade.