Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tucson, AZ
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Tucson leads 13 of 22 categories
Tucson
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
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.
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $249k less ($218,200 vs $467,200)
Rent averages $741/mo less ($991 vs $1,732)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $38,602/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,602 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Tucson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tucson
Key Differences at a Glance
Tucson
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$249k less
$218,200 vs $467,200
Tucson
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 91.1°F
Westminster
Median Income
$38,602
$90,651 vs $52,049/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
48% lower
303.6 vs 588.8 per 100k
Westminster
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tucson, AZ | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $218,200 ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $991 ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,049 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 156⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tucson Unified District (4403) | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.1" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,033 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tucson's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tucson leads 13 of 22 categories. Tucson wins 13 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Tucson to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($218,200 vs $467,200 median home), income ($52,049 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tucson, AZ and Westminster, CO are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.