Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 El Paso leads 17 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,710
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
6
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
Homes cost $618k less ($159,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $1001/mo less ($976 vs $1,977)
36% less violent crime than Westminster
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $24,561/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,561 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 59°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than El Paso
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
El Paso
Violent Crime
36% lower
278.4 vs 436.2 per 100k
El Paso
Median Home Value
$618k less
$159,300 vs $777,100
El Paso
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
El Paso
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$24,561
$80,271 vs $55,710/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
El Paso is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 17 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 17 and Westminster wins 6. 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 El Paso to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($55,710 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Westminster, CA are about 684 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.