Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Providence leads 15 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($293,000 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $763/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,977)
37% less violent crime than Westminster
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $18,906/yr
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,906 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 38°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 15% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Violent Crime
37% lower
276.7 vs 436.2 per 100k
Providence
Median Home Value
$484k less
$293,000 vs $777,100
Westminster
Median Income
$18,906
$80,271 vs $61,365/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Providence is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 15 of 23 categories. Providence wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Providence to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($61,365 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Westminster, CA are about 2,571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.