Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Phoenix, AZ
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories
Phoenix
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $127k less ($340,200 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $410/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,732)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 48°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $18,559/yr
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Westminster, CO
Pros
62% less violent crime than Phoenix
Households earn $18,559 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Phoenix
Key Differences at a Glance
Phoenix
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$127k less
$340,200 vs $467,200
Phoenix
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$18,559
$90,651 vs $72,092/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
62% lower
303.6 vs 799.6 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Phoenix, AZ | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,322 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,092 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Phoenix's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 13 of 23 categories. Phoenix wins 13 and Westminster wins 10. 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 Phoenix to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($340,200 vs $467,200 median home), income ($72,092 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Phoenix, AZ and Westminster, CO are about 584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.