Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
12
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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($308,300 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $505/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,732)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $31,045/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $31,045 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
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 Richmond
Key Differences at a Glance
Richmond
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$159k less
$308,300 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$31,045
$90,651 vs $59,606/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
10% lower
303.6 vs 336.9 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Richmond wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Richmond to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $467,200 median home), income ($59,606 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Westminster, CO are about 1,490 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.