Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Newark, NJ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 13 of 23 categories
Newark
New Jersey
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
13
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.
Newark, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $465k less ($312,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $704/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,977)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $33,811/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $33,811 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
Newark
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 112.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Newark
Median Home Value
$465k less
$312,300 vs $777,100
Newark
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.8°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$33,811
$80,271 vs $46,460/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
25% lower
436.2 vs 581.2 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.5% vs 10.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Newark, NJ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,273 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,460 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.7%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.0 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.6% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 93 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.0% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newark Public School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,355 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 23.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.9% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Newark's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Newark is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 13 of 23 categories. Newark wins 10 and Westminster wins 13. 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 Newark to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($46,460 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Newark, NJ and Westminster, CA are about 2,432 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.