About halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the city of Murrieta offers a small-town feel, surrounded by the rolling foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains. A stopover railroad town in the late 1800s, Murrieta had been transformed by the late 20th century into a less expensive, more suburban alternative to coastal California cities. “The cost of living is less compared to Orange County or San Diego,” says Katherine Materiale, a Realtor with ERA Donahoe Realty who has over 21 years of local experience. “A lot of people move to Murrieta because they can get more house for their money.” Today, the city’s home to about 113,000 residents and caters to an active lifestyle, offering scenic hillside hiking trails, community parks and tourist attractions like the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. Old Town Murrieta offers locally owned businesses and restaurants, and community events are often held at Town Square Park. “The biggest draw for people is the cleanliness—it’s a big family community,” Materiale says.
Business services, retail and construction are major local industries, and top employers include the highly rated Murrieta Valley Unified School District, Rancho Springs Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center. Materiale says the city also has a large military community; the U.S Army Temecula Recruiting Station is 6 miles away, the Naval Reserve Center - Riverside is 25 miles away, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is 31 miles away.
Grab a drink with a friend at the outdoor bar at DownTown PUBlic in Old Town Murrieta.
Murrieta is known for clean family-friendly neighborhoods.
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort attracts tourist looking for a relaxing vacation.
Loma Linda University Medical Center is a top employer in the Murrieta health care industry.
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Planned neighborhoods with Spanish-and Mission-inspired homes
The average home price in Murrieta is $730,000, compared to $870,000 in Temecula, roughly $950,000 in Anaheim and about $1.2 million in San Diego. The city's single-family homes are set in planned subdivisions with sidewalk-lined streets, and were built between the late 1980s and today; many are new traditional with Spanish- or Mission-inspired details, including red or brown clay-tiled roofs and white or beige stucco exteriors. Attached garages are standard, and private pools are popular additions. Communities set in the hills west of Old Town are particularly desirable, like gated Greer Ranch, where residents share access to a community pool and clubhouse. The 55-plus, resort-style Colony at California Oaks offers golf course views, a shared swimming pool and courts for tennis, pickleball and bocce.
Murrieta features single-family homes in planned neighborhoods throughout the area.
Play a round of golf at California Oaks Golf Club in Murrieta.
Spanish-style homes are popular builds in the Murrieta area.
Many newer developments in Murrieta offers residents access to community amenities.
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Scenic hiking in the Santa Rosa Mountains
There are over 50 parks and golf courses for locals to enjoy in Murrieta, including the 47-acre Los Alamos Hills Sports Park, where sporting events are often held, like youth baseball and soccer games. At Pond Park, anglers can cast their lines for bluegill and largemouth bass, and Copper Canyon Park’s the spot for a morning jog or dog walk along the park’s paved trails. Locals may practice their swing downtown at the Murrieta Valley Golf Range or hit the links a few miles away at the California Oaks Golf Club’s 18-hole public course, featuring tree-lined fairways and pockets of colorful wildflowers.
Murrieta’s popular hiking trails are set by the rolling foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, and include the 3-mile Vernal Pool Trail, which leads to the only natural basalt pools in southern California. Every decade or so, Murrieta experiences the springtime California Super Bloom, a rare ecological event when all of the area’s flowers bloom at once, coloring the city’s hills with orange, red and purple wildflowers. The Murrieta Hot Spring Resort is popular with tourists, offering pools of geothermal mineral water.
Los Alamos Hills Sports Park features a groomed running trail around the parameter.
Join some friends for a round of disc golf at California Oaks Golf Club in Murrieta.
Go fishing with a friend at Pond Park in Murrieta.
Ride or hike along the trails in the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains near Murrieta.
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Murrieta Valley Unified School District receives high marks
Murrieta is part of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, which serves about 22,000 students and is rated an overall A by Niche. “The school district is phenomenal,” Materiale says. High school students in the district may pursue their interests in career and technical education pathways for subjects like construction, education and hospitality. District high schools also offer dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Mt. San Jacinto College. Private options in the city include the A-plus-rated Calvary Murrieta Christian Schools, where students in kindergarten through Grade 8 learn about the Bible as a part of their core curriculum.
Students are guided toward success at Vista Murrieta High School.
Calvary Murrieta Christian School is a premier learning institution in Murrieta.
Murrieta high schools offer dual-enrollment courses for college credit at Mt. San Jacinto.
Dorothy McElhinney Middle School in Murrieta provides students with a positive environment.
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Local events and venues for the arts
Murrieta offers a rich arts scene, with a year-round schedule of cultural events and a vibrant community of local artists. Murrieta Market Nights are held downtown on the first and third Thursday of each month, featuring area vendors and artisans, as well as games and live music. Many events are hosted at the Town Square Park and Amphitheater, like summer concerts in the park and the annual holiday tree lighting. The Murrieta Arts Council hosts occasional events of its own, like open mic nights at downtown venues.
Getting around from Murrieta
Murrieta is about 65 miles north of San Diego and 80 miles south of Los Angeles, and Interstate 15 offers easy access to both. “We’ve had a lot of growth over the last 10 years or so, and it has impacted our traffic, but they are trying to relieve some of the traffic,” Materiale says. The I-15 Smart Freeway Pilot Project, which began in fall 2024, will install new traffic monitors that provide real-time updates of road conditions and traffic pace, so drivers are better informed of traffic ahead; the project is slated for completion by 2027. Riverside Transit Agency buses make stops in Murrieta, and local streets are bike- and pedestrian-friendly. Southwest Healthcare Rancho Springs Hospital is centrally located in the city, and McClellan-Palomar Airport is about 45 miles away.
Shopping and dining in Old Town Murrieta
Old Town’s full of locally owned businesses, several with Old West-inspired storefronts. Amid thrift stores and gift shops, eateries range from coffee shops and breweries to donuts and barbecue fare. Grocery stores, department stores and casual dining chains are set in retail plazas around Interstate 15. On Sunday mornings, the Murrieta Certified Farmers' Market is held downtown at the Village Walk Plaza.
The Murrieta Country Market’s Old West-inspired storefront attracts shoppers in the area.
Abide is a local shop in Murrieta offering artisan textiles and decor.
Find delicious local barbeque and bakeries in Murrieta.
The Press Espresso is the go-to coffee shop in Old Town Murrieta.
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Crime and environmental concerns
According to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, the number of reported violent- and property-related crimes in Murrieta decreased about 6% between 2013 and 2023, from 1,700 to 1,600; since 2018, about 84% of these FBI-reported incidents were property-related, compared to 80% nationally. The Murrieta Police Department publishes a monthly online report of their activity, so locals can stay up to date on their community.
Extreme heat and wildfires are the main environmental concerns in Murrieta. Summer temperatures tend to hover around 90 degrees, so air conditioning is essential. In 2024, the Alamos Fire burned about 70 acres in Murrieta; no injuries or property damage were reported. There are five fire stations in the city that respond to local emergencies, and residents can sign up for weather alerts on the city’s website.
On average, homes in Murrieta, CA sell after 39 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Murrieta, CA over the last 12 months is $696,000, up 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Licensed real estate agent since 1984. Licensed real estate broker since 1986. Top 25 agent for Mulhearn Realtors - now Prudential California Realty - 1985 & 1986. Managing partner Integrated Realty Services 1987 - 2003. Mortgage brokerage and one stop investment services for investors. Acquired and turned around 25+M Resolution Trust Corp (RTC) distressed assets. Associate broker with Century 21 Masters since 2003. Century 21 Double Centurion Award recipient. Top 1% of all agents in the Century 21 system. Member of the Panel of Economic Experts of the Ventura County Superior Court. Approved Superior Court Receiver. Chapter President - Asian Real Estate Association of America, Inland Empire Chapter. Specialized in Probate, income properties, 1031 Investment Tax Exchange with 20% or more increase in cash flow without additional capital.
2001 - Award recipient of the Award for Corporate Excellence from the U.S. State Department. Century 21 Centurion Honor Society Century 21 Centurion 2004-2016 Who's Who is California Tau Beta Pi - National Engineering Honor Society Phi Beta Phi - Nation's oldest and most selective Honor Society Eta Kappa Nu - Electrical Engineering Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi - French Honor Society
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with Honors - California State University - Los Angeles - 1982 Master of Science in Electrical Engineering - California State University - Los Angeles - 1984 CA Registered Professional Electrical Engineer since 1984 Resident of West Covina since 1983
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