Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 17 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
17
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $14,407/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Homes cost $355k less ($467,200 vs $822,600)
58% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $14,407 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
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
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Median Income
$14,407
$90,651 vs $76,244/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
58% lower
303.6 vs 728.5 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$355k less
$467,200 vs $822,600
Westminster
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 17 of 23 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 and Westminster wins 17. 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 Los Angeles to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $467,200 median home), income ($76,244 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Westminster, CO are about 840 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.