Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Roanoke leads 14 of 23 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $615k less ($162,000 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $1060/mo less ($917 vs $1,977)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $28,748/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,748 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Roanoke
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 47°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roanoke
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$615k less
$162,000 vs $777,100
Roanoke
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Roanoke
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 88.1°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$28,748
$80,271 vs $51,523/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
30% lower
436.2 vs 620.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 14 of 23 categories. Roanoke 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 Roanoke to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($51,523 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Westminster, CA are about 2,139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.