Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($347,000 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $606/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 52°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$430k less
$347,000 vs $777,100
Raleigh
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$1,640
$80,271 vs $78,631/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
11% lower
436.2 vs 488.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 12 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Raleigh to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($78,631 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Westminster, CA are about 2,223 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.