Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salinas, CA
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 15 of 22 categories
Salinas
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Salinas, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
42% less violent crime than Salinas
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $106k less ($467,200 vs $573,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Households earn $6,401 more per year on average
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
Westminster
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Median Income
$6,401
$90,651 vs $84,250/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
42% lower
303.6 vs 524.5 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$106k less
$467,200 vs $573,600
Westminster
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
20.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 70.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salinas, CA | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $573,600⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,795⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,250 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.9 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 3.7% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (57) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.6:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.0% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 62.0% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alisal Union | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 70.7°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.6" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 162,783 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 31.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.1% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.9% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salinas'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 15 of 22 categories. Salinas wins 7 and Westminster wins 15. 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 Salinas to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($573,600 vs $467,200 median home), income ($84,250 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salinas, CA and Westminster, CO are about 924 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.