Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tacoma, WA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories
Tacoma
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
12
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.
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($415,300 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,977)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Tacoma
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
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
Tacoma
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 113.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tacoma
Median Home Value
$362k less
$415,300 vs $777,100
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.5% unemployment
Westminster
Median Income
$1,186
$80,271 vs $79,085/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
59% lower
436.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Westminster
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 82.5°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tacoma, WA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $415,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,085 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 280⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.8% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.9% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tacoma School District | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 82.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 219,234 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.8% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tacoma's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Tacoma is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 12 of 23 categories. Tacoma wins 11 and Westminster wins 12. 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 Tacoma to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($415,300 vs $777,100 median home), income ($79,085 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tacoma, WA and Westminster, CA are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.