Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Knoxville, TN
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Knoxville
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ 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.
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $593k less ($184,200 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $934/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,977)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $31,962/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,962 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Knoxville
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Knoxville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Knoxville
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$593k less
$184,200 vs $777,100
Knoxville
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$31,962
$80,271 vs $48,309/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
41% lower
436.2 vs 740.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Knoxville, TN | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,200 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,043 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,309 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 195⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Knox County | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,857 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Knoxville's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Knoxville 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 Knoxville to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,200 vs $777,100 median home), income ($48,309 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Knoxville, TN and Westminster, CA are about 1,926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.