Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories
Riverside
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Homes cost $292k less ($485,500 vs $777,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,711 vs $1,977)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Households earn $3,177 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Westminster, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Riverside
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverside
Median Income
$3,177
$83,448 vs $80,271/yr
Riverside
Median Home Value
$292k less
$485,500 vs $777,100
Riverside
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Violent Crime
26% lower
436.2 vs 589.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 22.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Riverside is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Riverside leads 13 of 22 categories. Riverside wins 13 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 Riverside to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $777,100 median home), income ($83,448 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Westminster, CA are about 37 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.