Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sparks, NV
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories
Sparks
Nevada
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Westminster
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sparks, NV
Pros
Rent averages $206/mo less ($1,526 vs $1,732)
Homes cost $44k less ($423,500 vs $467,200)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Median income trails Westminster by $7,713/yr
Westminster, CO
Pros
23% less violent crime than Sparks
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,713 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sparks
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Home Value
$44k less
$423,500 vs $467,200
Westminster
Median Income
$7,713
$90,651 vs $82,938/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
23% lower
303.6 vs 394.4 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sparks, NV | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,526⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,938 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.4% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.8% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.4" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.8" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,025 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparks's cost of living index is 103.2 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 12 of 23 categories. Sparks wins 12 and Westminster wins 11. 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 Sparks to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,500 vs $467,200 median home), income ($82,938 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sparks, NV and Westminster, CO are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.