Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($494,700 vs $777,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (3.9%)
16% less violent crime than Westminster
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $314/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,977)
Households earn $8,628 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°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
Beaverton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 106.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Beaverton
Median Income
$8,628
$88,899 vs $80,271/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
16% lower
364.8 vs 436.2 per 100k
Beaverton
Median Home Value
$282k less
$494,700 vs $777,100
Beaverton
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Beaverton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 14 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 14 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Beaverton to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($88,899 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Westminster, CA are about 849 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.