Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 18 of 22 categories
Kent
Washington
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
38% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Households earn $3,685 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Westminster
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Median Income
$3,685
$90,651 vs $86,966/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
38% lower
303.6 vs 489.7 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$11k less
$467,200 vs $478,400
Westminster
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Westminster leads 18 of 22 categories. Kent wins 4 and Westminster wins 18. 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 Kent to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $467,200 median home), income ($86,966 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Westminster, CO are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.