Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Indio leads 15 of 22 categories
Indio
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Westminster
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
Homes cost $404k less ($373,200 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $633/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,977)
23% less violent crime than Westminster
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $11,835/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,835 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°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
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
Indio
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Indio
Violent Crime
23% lower
336.2 vs 436.2 per 100k
Indio
Median Home Value
$404k less
$373,200 vs $777,100
Indio
Summer Heat
23.3°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$11,835
$80,271 vs $68,436/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 77.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 90,638 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Indio is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Indio leads 15 of 22 categories. Indio wins 15 and Westminster wins 7. 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 Indio to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $777,100 median home), income ($68,436 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Westminster, CA are about 101 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.