Living in Westminster, CA
Westminster is the 406th-largest city in the US, home to about 89,000 people in 2025. It has lost 2% of its population since 2020. Prices across the metro area run above the national average (113.6 on an index where the US is 100).
- Population, 2025
- 88,966-2% since 2020
- Median home value
- $858,30010.0 years of median income
- Median rent
- $2,168/morent plus utilities
- Household income
- $85,541median, per year
- Price level
- 113.6US average = 100
- January / July highs
- 69° / 84°lows 46° / 66°
- Average commute
- 27 min12% work from home
- State income tax
- 13.3%top rate, graduated
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County: Orange County
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Elevation: about 39 ft
Metro area: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Cost of living in Westminster
The median home in Westminster is worth $858,300 and the median household earns $85,541 a year, so a typical home costs about 10.0 years of income. Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) is $2,168 a month, about 30% of the median household's income. BEA puts overall prices in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area at 113.6, with housing at 170.4 and goods at 106.6 (US = 100). In practice, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced place stretches about as far as $85,200 here. California taxes wages at a top rate of 13.3%. The average combined state and local sales tax in California is 9.03%.
What would my salary be worth in Westminster?
Westminster weather
Average highs run from 69°F in January to 84°F in July, and January nights average 46°F. It gets 12 inches of rain and melted snow a year, with almost no snow. Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter. The most comfortable months are September to July.
Month-by-month weather and the best time to visit Westminster
People and work
The median resident is 43.2 years old, and 26% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. 53% of households own their home. The average one-way commute is 27 minutes; 12% of workers work from home.
- Median age
- 43.2524th youngest of 546
- Bachelor's or higher
- 26%adults 25+
- Homeowners
- 53%of households
- People per sq mile
- 8,86210.0 sq mi of land
- Take transit to work
- 1%1% walk, 0.8% bike
- Unemployment
- 7.2%2020-2024 average
- Poverty rate
- 14.4%of residents
- Typical home built
- 1971median year
Who moves to Westminster, and where people go
From farther away, newcomers most often come from Riverside (Riverside County), San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) and San Jose (Santa Clara County). People who leave for somewhere more than 100 miles away most often head to Riverside (Riverside County), San Bernardino (San Bernardino County) and Phoenix (Maricopa County). See the map and full lists
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years. Where Americans are moving.
Natural hazards, home prices and air quality
Natural hazard risk
Very High
FEMA rating for Orange County, scored against every US county. Biggest risks: inland flooding, earthquake, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Home prices
+3.3% in a year
Up 46% over five years. FHFA house price index for the Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine, CA (MSAD) area, 2026 Q2.
Air quality, 2025
11% good days
99 days unhealthy at least for sensitive groups. EPA daily air quality index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area (365 days measured).
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) combines expected losses from 18 natural hazards with how vulnerable and resilient the community is. It describes the county, not your street; check flood maps for a specific address at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center.
Parks and sights near Westminster
The best-known parks, museums, zoos and landmarks within about 35 miles. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Angel Stadium of Anaheim 7 miles
- Dodger Stadium 26 miles
- University of California-Los Angeles 34 miles
- University of Southern California 25 miles
Places from Wikidata (CC0), linked to each one's official site or Wikipedia article. Check hours and fees before you go.
Airports near Westminster
| Airport | Distance | Passengers boarding in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| John Wayne Airport SNA | 9 mi | 5,370,273 |
| Long Beach Airport LGB | 10 mi | 2,031,810 |
| Hawthorne Municipal Airport HHR | 23 mi | 6,417 |
| Los Angeles International Airport LAX | 27 mi | 37,760,834 |
Federal Aviation Administration, calendar year 2024 passenger boardings (enplanements) at commercial service airports. Straight-line distance.
Colleges in and near Westminster
| College | Distance | Undergrads | Net price a year | Graduate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | 11 mi | 38,546 | $5,115 | 68% |
| California State University-Long Beach | 7 mi | 35,924 | $9,426 | 70% |
| University of California-Irvine | 11 mi | 30,197 | $13,866 | 87% |
| Mt San Antonio College | 22 mi | 26,140 | $1,676 | 45% |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 23 mi | 25,042 | $9,404 | 68% |
| University of Southern California | 25 mi | 20,443 | $33,056 | 90% |
US Department of Education College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Net price is the average yearly cost after grants for students who get federal aid. Graduate: share finishing within 150% of normal time.
Frost dates and fall color in Westminster
Freezing nights are rare here.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for Fullerton Municipal Airport, CA, median (50%) dates. All frost dates for Westminster.
Wildfire smoke in Westminster
From 2021 through 2025, a smoke plume covered Westminster on about 36 days a year, including about 7 days of medium or heavy smoke. Smoke high overhead can turn sunsets red without reaching the ground, so check the air quality reading before you change plans.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, daily satellite plumes over the city center, 2021 to 2025. Smoke days for every city.
Home internet in Westminster
Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, table B28002, 28,150 households. Compare every city.
Public schools in Westminster
Downtown Westminster is in these districts. Neighborhoods farther out may belong to a different one, so check the address with the district before you buy or rent.
| District | Grades | Students | Schools | Students per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington Beach Union High School District | 9 to 12 | 13,982 | 8 | 23.1 |
| Westminster School District | K to 8 | 7,870 | 17 | 22.8 |
Other districts within 10 miles: Long Beach Unified School District (62,644 students), Irvine Unified School District (38,028 students), Garden Grove Unified School District (37,009 students), Santa Ana Unified School District (36,036 students), Anaheim Union High School District (26,120 students), Orange Unified School District (23,823 students).
National Center for Education Statistics, school district boundaries and characteristics, 2024-25 school year.
Westminster's twin cities
Cities at least 250 miles away with the closest match to Westminster's weather month by month and its costs (price level, home values and rent).
- Concord, CA69% matchCompare
- San Leandro, CA67% matchCompare
- Hayward, CA65% matchCompare
- Antioch, CA63% matchCompare
Find a twin that is cheaper, warmer or cooler
Stargazing near Westminster
The nearest certified International Dark Sky Places:
Designations by DarkSky International as recorded in Wikidata (CC0). All dark sky places.
Ski resorts near Westminster
- Buckhorn Ski Club 41 miles
- Mount Waterman 41 miles
- Mount Baldy Ski Lifts 42 miles
- Kratka Ridge 42 miles
Straight-line distance. All ski resorts.
Pros and cons of living in Westminster
Data points come from the official sources on this page. Points marked Local come from people who live here, are read by a person before they appear, and are ranked by readers.
Pros
- Data 11 months a year have comfortable weather by our rule.
- Data Winters are warm, with January highs around 69°F.
Cons
- Data Homes are expensive for local pay: the median home costs 10.0 years of median household income.
- Data Everyday prices in the metro run 14% above the US average, mostly because of housing.
- Data California's top income tax rate is 13.3%, among the highest in the country.
- Data Sales tax is high: 9.03% on average with local taxes.
- Data High natural hazard risk in Orange County (FEMA rates it very high), led by inland flooding, earthquake and wildfire.
- Data Air quality is a concern: 99 days in 2025 were unhealthy at least for sensitive groups (EPA).
Westminster report card from locals
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Westminster through locals' eyes
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Cities near Westminster
| City | Distance | Population | Home value | Price level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden Grove, CA | 2 mi | 170,455 | $814,100 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Huntington Beach, CA | 3 mi | 191,451 | $1,100,000 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Santa Ana, CA | 7 mi | 315,586 | $713,000 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Buena Park, CA | 7 mi | 81,741 | $838,800 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Anaheim, CA | 7 mi | 341,008 | $831,200 | 113.6 | Compare |
| Costa Mesa, CA | 9 mi | 108,881 | $1,115,100 | 113.6 | Compare |
Straight-line distance between city centers.
Westminster ranks 117th of 144 in our best suburbs of Los Angeles ranking.
Cities with a similar profile
Closest match on climate, price level, size, income and median age, outside the immediate area.
Compare Westminster with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Westminster a good place to live?
It depends on what you need. The numbers show 11 comfortable months a year; the trade-offs are high prices, expensive homes relative to local incomes, a shrinking population. Compare Westminster side by side with another city to see how it stacks up for you.
What is the population of Westminster?
The Census Bureau estimates Westminster had 88,966 residents on July 1, 2025, compared with 90,816 in April 2020 (-2%).
How much do you need to earn to live in Westminster?
Using BEA price levels, a $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $85,200 in the Westminster area. The median household here earns $85,541.
When is the best time to visit Westminster?
By the 1991-2020 climate normals, September to July are the most comfortable months. July averages 84°F and January 69°F for daytime highs.
What county is Westminster in?
Westminster is in Orange County, California. Source: Census Bureau 2020 geography.
What time zone is Westminster in?
Westminster is on Pacific Time (UTC-8, or UTC-7 during daylight saving time from March to November).
What is the elevation of Westminster?
About 39 feet above sea level at the city center. Elevation varies across the city.
Does California have a state income tax?
Yes. California has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 13.3% for 2026. Some cities add a local income tax, which is not included here.
Sources
Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates (July 1, 2025). Income, housing, education and commuting: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for the city of Westminster. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals, Fullerton Municipal Airport, CA station; snowfall from Santa Ana Fire Stn, CA. Taxes: Tax Foundation 2026. How we get our numbers.