Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Mesa leads 17 of 22 categories
Mesa
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
5
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.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $449k less ($327,700 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $625/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.7%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $6,505/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Westminster, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Mesa
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 106°F
Households earn $6,505 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$449k less
$327,700 vs $777,100
Mesa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Mesa
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$6,505
$80,271 vs $73,766/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
10% lower
436.2 vs 482.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 17 of 22 categories. Mesa wins 17 and Westminster wins 5. 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 Mesa to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($73,766 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Westminster, CA are about 362 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.