What are the schools like in Westminster, MD?

Westminster is served primarily by Carroll County Public Schools. The district operates 23 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Westminster?

The median household income in Westminster, MD is $71,286 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.4%.

What is the weather like in Westminster, MD?

Westminster has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 46.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

Westminster, MD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Westminster, MD affordable or expensive?

Westminster's cost of living index is 103, where 100 represents the national average. This means Westminster is 3% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $292,900 and the median rent is $1,335 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Westminster, MD?

Westminster has a violent crime rate of 241.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2041.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Westminster, MD a Good Place to Live?

Westminster is a small city of 20,099 in Maryland, with a median household income of $71,286 and a 4.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 103 (US average = 100), which is 3% above the national average.

Strengths: Westminster stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Westminster is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Westminster city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 102.7

Westminster's overall cost of living index is 102.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Westminster costs roughly 3% more than the average American city.

Metric	Westminster, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$292,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,335	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	53.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$71,286	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Westminster's violent crime rate is 241.9 per 100,000 residents — 36% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

241.9 /100k

Property Crime

2041.5 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Westminster is served primarily by Carroll County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Westminster, MD	National Avg
School District	Carroll County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	23	—
Middle Schools	9	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	35.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Westminster sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July, with 46.6 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Westminster, MD
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	85.3°F
Annual Precipitation	46.6"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Westminster, MD	National Avg
Population	20,099	—
Median Age	37.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	6.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	3.0%	6.3%
Under 18	17.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

New Windsor, MD 5 mi Manchester, MD 8 mi Hampstead, MD 9 mi Union Bridge, MD 9 mi Taneytown, MD 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Westminster

Westminster, MD is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

21158 21157

Westminster vs Other Cities

Westminster, MD vs New Windsor, MD Westminster, MD vs Manchester, MD Westminster, MD vs Hampstead, MD Westminster, MD vs Union Bridge, MD Westminster, MD vs Taneytown, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Westminster, MD affordable or expensive?

Westminster's cost of living index is 103, where 100 is the national average. That puts Westminster roughly 3% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $292,900 and median rent is $1,335/month.

What is the crime rate in Westminster, MD?

Westminster's violent crime rate is 241.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2041.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Westminster?

Public schools in Westminster are operated by Carroll County Public Schools. The district has 23 elementary, 9 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 35.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Westminster, MD a good place to live?

Westminster, MD has a population of 20,099, a median household income of $71,286, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Westminster?

Westminster averages 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.6 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Westminster?

Westminster, MD is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 21158, 21157.

What is the population of Westminster?

The population of Westminster, Maryland is 20,099 with a median age of 37.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Westminster?

Key numbers for living in Westminster: cost of living index 103 (100 = US average), median home $292,900, median household income $71,286, crime index 77 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Westminster side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.