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Living in
Westminster.
About
Life in Westminster
This densely packed Orange County city of about 90,000 people is fundamentally shaped by its Vietnamese community—nearly 44% of residents—which has made Little Saigon one of the most vibrant immigrant neighborhoods in America, with incredible pho restaurants, bakeries, and markets clustered around Bolsa Avenue that draw people from across Southern California. It's a place with genuine character and deep roots; the city even won the All-America City Award in 1996, and it has real historical weight as the site of the 1947 Mendez v. Westminster case that helped end school segregation in California.
Westminster at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.4%
Foreign-Born
46.4%
Broadband Internet
93.5%
of households
Population Growth
-2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics46.4% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Westminster: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Westminster, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (68.0%), and 41.1% of residents speak Vietnamese at home.
Under 18
20.5%
of residents
65 and Older
19.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
33.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
19.3%
of households
Married Couples
53.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% above CA average
Rent, home values, and income in Westminster
In Westminster, rent runs 6% above the CA average, and home values are 17% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
59.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
113.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,217
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $1,093,355 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below CA average
Unemployment in Westminster and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Westminster is 0.6 percentage points lower than the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Westminster Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area
Commute27 min avg
How Westminster residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Westminster, most residents drive alone to work (69%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
John Wayne Orange County International Airport (SNA)
Medium hub5.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 27 mi
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Major hub36.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyabout average for violent crime
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Westminster is close to the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
334
per 100,000 residents
About average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,019.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Westminster Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 16 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Orange County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Orange County, which includes Westminster, the most common type is high wind, with 16 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | Heavy Rain | $40,000 |
| 2024 | 25 | High Wind | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 37 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2022 | 42 | High Wind | $60.0M |
| 2021 | 40 | High Wind | $952,000 |
| 2020 | 30 | High Wind | $105,000 |
| 2019 | 33 | High Surf | $125,500 |
| 2018 | 23 | High Surf | $20,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
124 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Orange County, county-wide
Westminster is about 3% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality53 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Orange County, which includes Westminster, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
53
Good Days
138
per year
Moderate Days
214
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Orange County, county-wide
Westminster is about 3% of Orange County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate82°F summers, 49°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Westminster has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and warm winters (avg low 49°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
79°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
69°/49°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
12.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
30
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
35
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69°F | 49°F | 2.88" |
| Feb | 69°F | 50°F | 3.16" |
| Mar | 71°F | 52°F | 1.71" |
| Apr | 73°F | 54°F | 0.82" |
| May | 75°F | 58°F | 0.29" |
| Jun | 78°F | 61°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 83°F | 65°F | 0.03" |
| Aug | 85°F | 65°F | 0.00" |
| Sep | 84°F | 64°F | 0.12" |
| Oct | 79°F | 59°F | 0.50" |
| Nov | 74°F | 53°F | 0.79" |
| Dec | 68°F | 48°F | 2.16" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Westminster
Uninsured
6.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Westminster's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Huntington Beach Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Huntington Beach
Memorialcare Orange Coast Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Fountain Valley
Uci Health - Fountain Valley
Acute Care Hospitals · 4.3 mi away · Fountain Valley
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education23.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Westminster
Westminster's student/teacher ratio is 23.1:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
21
within city limits
Private Schools
6
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
23.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Westminster (within 15 miles)
California State University-Fullerton
10.9 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 38,546 students · in-state tuition $7,952 · 80% graduate · median earnings $69,015 (10 yrs after entry)
California State University-Long Beach
7.1 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 35,924 students · in-state tuition $8,338 · 81% graduate · median earnings $69,554 (10 yrs after entry)
University of California-Irvine
11.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,197 students · in-state tuition $16,235 · 88% graduate · median earnings $83,432 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 17,121 students · in-state tuition $1,150 · 28% graduate · median earnings $49,216 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,579 students · in-state tuition $1,160 · 26% graduate · median earnings $52,421 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,286 students · in-state tuition $1,156 · 33% graduate · median earnings $53,719 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, 45 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Westminster
Westminster has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail (45 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
45 mi awaySanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
51 mi awayCabrillo National Monument
National Monument
86 mi awayPublic Libraries in Westminster
Westminster Branch Library
8180 13th St., Westminster
Cities Near Westminster
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Westminster?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Westminster FAQ
Is Westminster, California affordable?⌄
Westminster's median rent is $2,168/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $85,541/year. Median home value is $858,300.
Is Westminster, California safe?⌄
Westminster's violent crime rate was 334 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2020 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Westminster, California?⌄
Westminster has an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Westminster, California?⌄
The cost of living in Westminster is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,168/month and median household income is $85,541/year. The median home value is $858,300. About 59% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Westminster, California?⌄
The average commute in Westminster is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from