Murrieta vs Rocklin
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $639,800 in Murrieta and $703,400 in Rocklin.
- Households earn more in Rocklin ($124,168 vs $114,081 median).
- Murrieta has the warmer winter: January highs of 68°F vs 57°F.
- Rocklin has more scorching days: 90 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 60.
- Rocklin is growing faster: +7.3% since 2020 vs +2.8%.
- Commutes are shorter in Rocklin (26 vs 37 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Murrieta, CA | Rocklin, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 114,124 | 76,821 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.8% | +7.3% |
| People per square mile | 3,224 | 3,872 |
| Median age | 36.6 | 38.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33% | 48% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $114,081 | $124,168 |
| Median home value | $639,800 | $703,400 |
| Home value to income | 5.6× | 5.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $2,388 | $2,258 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 106.4 | 106.7 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 129.3 | 130.2 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $79,800 | $80,000 |
| Homeowners | 70% | 68% |
| Top state income tax | 13.3% | 13.3% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.03% | 9.03% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 37.4 | 26.1 |
| Work from home | 17% | 24% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.8% | 4.5% |
| Poverty rate | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 68° / 47° | 57° / 41° |
| July high / low | 87° / 60° | 94° / 61° |
| Precipitation per year | 15 in | 19 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 60 | 90 |
| Nights below freezing | 0 | 4 |
| Comfortable months | 9 | 6 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Very High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 99.9 | 93.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 7% | 35% |
| Home prices, past year | +0.8% | +0.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +35.9% | +19.9% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Murrieta: October to June. Rocklin: February to May and October to November.
Full monthly tables: Murrieta weather by month and Rocklin weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $79,800 in Murrieta and $80,000 in Rocklin. Moving from Murrieta to Rocklin, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Murrieta and Rocklin
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Murrieta and Rocklin.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.