Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
12
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.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
Homes cost $562k less ($215,500 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $727/mo less ($1,250 vs $1,977)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $22,734/yr
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 7.5%)
Westminster, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Households earn $22,734 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 42°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 89°F
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)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Philadelphia
Key Differences at a Glance
Philadelphia
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$562k less
$215,500 vs $777,100
Philadelphia
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.3°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$22,734
$80,271 vs $57,537/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
52% lower
436.2 vs 908.7 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.5% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Philadelphia is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Philadelphia to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $777,100 median home), income ($57,537 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Westminster, CA are about 2,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.