Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Scottsdale, AZ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories
Scottsdale
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
65% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $23,926 more per year on average
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $125k less ($651,800 vs $777,100)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Westminster, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 99°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 64°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $23,926/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$23,926
$104,197 vs $80,271/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
65% lower
152.5 vs 436.2 per 100k
Scottsdale
Median Home Value
$125k less
$651,800 vs $777,100
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.5% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Scottsdale, AZ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $651,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,197 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.5% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.3% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 240,537 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 48.4 ✓ Older | 41.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.0% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 14.3% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.1% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Scottsdale's cost of living index is 104.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 20 of 22 categories. Scottsdale wins 20 and Westminster wins 2. 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 Scottsdale to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($651,800 vs $777,100 median home), income ($104,197 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Scottsdale, AZ and Westminster, CA are about 352 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.