Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,685
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Homes cost $367k less ($409,700 vs $777,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.5%)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($1,651 vs $1,977)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Westminster, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Aurora
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Aurora
Median Home Value
$367k less
$409,700 vs $777,100
Aurora
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Aurora
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.4°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$1,586
$80,271 vs $78,685/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
54% lower
436.2 vs 947.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Aurora is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Aurora leads 13 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 13 and Westminster wins 10. 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 Aurora to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($78,685 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Westminster, CA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.