Sparks vs Westminster
The short version
- Sparks is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 5% lower than in the Westminster area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $483,800 in Sparks and $532,400 in Westminster.
- Households earn more in Westminster ($100,272 vs $89,056 median).
- Westminster gets far more snow: 49 inches a year vs 21.
- Sparks has more scorching days: 65 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 42.
- Sparks is growing faster: +3.2% since 2020 vs -0.4%.
- Commutes are shorter in Sparks (24 vs 27 minutes each way).
- Nevada has no state income tax on wages; Colorado's top rate is 4.4%.
Side by side
| Sparks, NV | Westminster, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 111,902 | 116,182 |
| Growth since 2020 | +3.2% | -0.4% |
| People per square mile | 3,066 | 3,674 |
| Median age | 37.2 | 37.4 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28% | 45% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $89,056 | $100,272 |
| Median home value | $483,800 | $532,400 |
| Home value to income | 5.4× | 5.3× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,716 | $1,882 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 101.0 | 105.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 123.5 | 146.9 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,800 | $79,300 |
| Homeowners | 60% | 62% |
| Top state income tax | None | 4.4% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.24% | 7.89% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.0 | 27.0 |
| Work from home | 11% | 22% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.2% | 3.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 7.3% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 48° / 26° | 47° / 18° |
| July high / low | 94° / 60° | 90° / 59° |
| Precipitation per year | 7 in | 15 in |
| Snowfall per year | 21 in | 49 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 65 | 42 |
| Nights below freezing | 122 | 156 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.7 | 91.2 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 50% | 29% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.8% | -0.5% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +30.3% | +21.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Sparks: May to June and September. Westminster: May to June and September.
Full monthly tables: Sparks weather by month and Westminster weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,800 in Sparks and $79,300 in Westminster. Moving from Sparks to Westminster, you would need about $78,500 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.