Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Washington, DC
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Washington leads 12 of 23 categories
Washington
District of Columbia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
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.
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $21,451 more per year on average
Homes cost $72k less ($705,000 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $160/mo less ($1,817 vs $1,977)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Washington
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $21,451/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Property crime (2498.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Washington
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Washington
Median Income
$21,451
$101,722 vs $80,271/yr
Washington
Median Home Value
$72k less
$705,000 vs $777,100
Washington
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.8°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Violent Crime
53% lower
436.2 vs 925.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $705,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,817⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,722 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.0% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 215⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 244⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.7% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | District of Columbia Public Schools | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.7°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 670,587 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Washington is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Washington leads 12 of 23 categories. Washington 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 Washington to Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($705,000 vs $777,100 median home), income ($101,722 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Washington, DC and Westminster, CA are about 2,289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.