Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Westminster
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
Rent averages $347/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,732)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $26,172/yr
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 4.1%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Westminster
Westminster, CO
Pros
41% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Households earn $26,172 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Median Income
$26,172
$90,651 vs $64,479/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
41% lower
303.6 vs 518.1 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 and Westminster wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arden-Arcade to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $467,200 median home), income ($64,479 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Westminster, CO are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.