Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 13 of 23 categories
Pasadena
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Households earn $7,167 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Homes cost $514k less ($467,200 vs $981,600)
37% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $368/mo less ($1,732 vs $2,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Pasadena by $7,167/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$7,167
$97,818 vs $90,651/yr
Westminster
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Violent Crime
37% lower
303.6 vs 480.4 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$514k less
$467,200 vs $981,600
Westminster
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 39.9 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena'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 13 of 23 categories. Pasadena 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 Pasadena to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $467,200 median home), income ($97,818 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Westminster, CO are about 821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.