Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
26% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Rent averages $124/mo less ($1,853 vs $1,977)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 85" of snow per year
Westminster, CA
Pros
Homes cost $143k less ($777,100 vs $919,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.4%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Boulder
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boulder
Violent Crime
26% lower
322.3 vs 436.2 per 100k
Boulder
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Boulder
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.0°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Home Value
$143k less
$777,100 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $777,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boulder is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boulder leads 13 of 23 categories. Boulder 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 Boulder to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($80,243 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Westminster, CA are about 826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.