Signals
Westminster
Essex
Climate
64 · Bottom 31%
vs71 · Top 44%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs94 · Top 6%
Housing affordability
84 · Top 45%
vs78 · Bottom 45%
Schools
77 · Top 17%
vs28 · Bottom 20%
Access
83 · Bottom 27%
vs95 · Top 35%
Economic stability
62 · Top 47%
vs57 · Bottom 44%
Measured values
| Metric | Westminster | Essex | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,445 | 40,580 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,219 | $67,168 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $44,953 | $35,849 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,023/sq mi | 4,382/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $337,600 | $258,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,476 | $1,319 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 56.5% | 61.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 19.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 10.0% | 12.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 85°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 21°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.1" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 33 mi | 15 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 31.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.5 | 41.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 18 | 13 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.37 | 15.56 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.7% | 6.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 32.3% | 15.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 35.2% | 64.0% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Westminster
Elevated or high exposure: drought, cold wave.
Essex
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Your best match
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Westminster
77
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Essex
71
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Full profiles: Westminster, MD · Essex, MD · How this is calculated: methodology