Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tempe, AZ
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories
Tempe
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($382,100 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,732)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Cons
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $18,629/yr
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
35% less violent crime than Tempe
Households earn $18,629 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
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
Tempe
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Home Value
$85k less
$382,100 vs $467,200
Tempe
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$18,629
$90,651 vs $72,022/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
35% lower
303.6 vs 470.3 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tempe, AZ | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $382,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,022 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.8% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 129⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tempe School District (4258) | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.5" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,005 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.4% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tempe's cost of living index is 99.9 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tempe leads 15 of 23 categories. Tempe wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Tempe to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,100 vs $467,200 median home), income ($72,022 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tempe, AZ and Westminster, CO are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.