Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Houston leads 13 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($235,000 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $742/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,977)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $19,831/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $19,831 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 93°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 63°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 15% higher than Houston
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$542k less
$235,000 vs $777,100
Houston
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$19,831
$80,271 vs $60,440/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
62% lower
436.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Houston leads 13 of 22 categories. Houston wins 13 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Houston to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($60,440 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Westminster, CA are about 1,353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.