Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Washington, DC
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Westminster leads 15 of 23 categories
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,651
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.
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $11,071 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
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
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.1%)
Westminster, CO
Pros
67% less violent crime than Washington
Homes cost $238k less ($467,200 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $85/mo less ($1,732 vs $1,817)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Washington by $11,071/yr
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Washington
Median Income
$11,071
$101,722 vs $90,651/yr
Westminster
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Violent Crime
67% lower
303.6 vs 925.9 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$238k less
$467,200 vs $705,000
Westminster
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $705,000⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,817⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,722 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.0% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 215⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 244⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 171⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.7% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | District of Columbia Public Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 9.7" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 670,587 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.4% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Westminster is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Westminster leads 15 of 23 categories. Washington wins 8 and Westminster wins 15. 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 $467,200 median home), income ($101,722 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Washington, DC and Westminster, CO are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.