Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Austin leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $183/mo less ($1,549 vs $1,732)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Westminster by $4,095/yr
Westminster, CO
Pros
35% less violent crime than Austin
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
Households earn $4,095 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Austin
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$4,095
$90,651 vs $86,556/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
35% lower
303.6 vs 466.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Austin is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $467,200 median home), income ($86,556 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Westminster, CO are about 780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.