Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Surprise, AZ
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories
Surprise
Arizona
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
3
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.
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $425k less ($352,600 vs $777,100)
75% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Households earn $7,485 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Westminster, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Surprise
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$7,485
$87,756 vs $80,271/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
75% lower
109.1 vs 436.2 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$425k less
$352,600 vs $777,100
Surprise
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
22.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Surprise, AZ | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,822⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,756 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 29 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dysart Unified District (4243) | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.9" ✓ Drier | 12.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 145,591 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 41.5 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 78.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Surprise's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Surprise leads 19 of 22 categories. Surprise wins 19 and Westminster wins 3. 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 Surprise to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($352,600 vs $777,100 median home), income ($87,756 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Surprise, AZ and Westminster, CA are about 319 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.