Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
14
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $578k less ($198,900 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $823/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,977)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $38,430/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $38,430 more per year on average
15% less violent crime than Hartford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 26.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Hartford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$578k less
$198,900 vs $777,100
Westminster
Median Income
$38,430
$80,271 vs $41,841/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
15% lower
436.2 vs 515.8 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 14 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 9 and Westminster wins 14. 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 Hartford to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($41,841 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Westminster, CA are about 2,506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.