Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fresno
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fresno, CA
Pros
Homes cost $455k less ($321,800 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $750/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,977)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 19.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $17,270/yr
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
41% less violent crime than Fresno
Households earn $17,270 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (7.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 98°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 55°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
Fresno
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fresno
Median Home Value
$455k less
$321,800 vs $777,100
Fresno
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$17,270
$80,271 vs $63,001/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.2 vs 735.5 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
7.5% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fresno is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fresno wins 11 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Fresno to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $777,100 median home), income ($63,001 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Westminster, CA are about 233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.