Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 17 of 22 categories
Renton
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
105,355
Westminster
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Renton, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3313.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.8 min average each way
Westminster, CO
Pros
10% less violent crime than Renton
Homes cost $110k less ($467,200 vs $576,800)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,732 vs $1,864)
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$1,641
$92,292 vs $90,651/yr
Westminster
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Violent Crime
10% lower
303.6 vs 339.2 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$110k less
$467,200 vs $576,800
Westminster
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Westminster leads 17 of 22 categories. Renton wins 5 and Westminster wins 17. 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 Renton to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $467,200 median home), income ($92,292 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Westminster, CO are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.