Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($347,000 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $361/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,732)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $12,020/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CO
Pros
38% less violent crime than Raleigh
Households earn $12,020 more per year on average
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 8% higher than Raleigh
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$120k less
$347,000 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$12,020
$90,651 vs $78,631/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
38% lower
303.6 vs 488.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 14 and Westminster wins 9. 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 $467,200 median home), income ($78,631 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Westminster, CO are about 1,463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.