Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Denton leads 15 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
8
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $481k less ($296,100 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $713/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,977)
53% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $8,350/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,350 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°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)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Denton
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
53% lower
204.2 vs 436.2 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$481k less
$296,100 vs $777,100
Denton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$8,350
$80,271 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 15 of 23 categories. Denton wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Denton to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $777,100 median home), income ($71,921 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Westminster, CA are about 1,200 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.