The Cost of Living Diaries: Westminster, CO

While I’ve lived in Colorado my entire life, I moved to the suburb of Westminster about five years ago. My husband and I lived in a condo in Boulder before we relocated to Westminster, where the cost of living is lower, and we could afford to purchase a single-family home with a yard for our cocker spaniel, Teddy. 

Westminster is a city tucked along Colorado’s Front Range, about 25 minutes from both Denver and Boulder. It is a quiet community with plenty of residential neighborhoods that are flanked by peaceful parks and green spaces. The city has a population of 115,117, similar to the neighboring community of Broomfield, and the median household income is $86,273. The options for places to live in Westminster include everything from new custom homes to apartments and condos.     

The average Westminster home value is a little over $530,000, which is about $30,000 less than the average home value in Denver. We purchased our four-bedroom, 2,248-square-foot home in 2019 for $400,000 but have gained more than $280,000 of equity since then. That’s partly thanks to rising demand for housing in and around the Denver metro area, which encompasses Westminster. We pay for the mortgage and household bills with an annual dual income of $110,000.

The Westminster area has several grocery stores, most of which are big-name chains such as King Soopers, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Sprouts and Whole Foods. Other options include a small, locally-owned Mexican market (De La Laguna) and an Asian grocery store (Great Wall Supermarket). My husband and I probably spend about $75 to $100 on groceries weekly, which we typically purchase from Sprouts and King Soopers.

We have a six-month-old son, so I am grateful that Westminster is a great place to raise a family. There are more than 60 parks located throughout the city, so there’s plentiful access to playgrounds, dog parks and plenty of room to roam. There are many family-friendly restaurants, including chains and locally owned options, and it even has a Butterfly Pavilion. The city is also a quick 25-minute drive to the kid-pleasing attractions of Denver, such as the zoo and many museums. 

My husband and I are very lucky to have my mom watching our son for us so we can both continue working full-time without worrying about the high costs of childcare. While there are several childcare options in our area, including daycare centers and preschools, I know finding the right one for our limited budget would be a challenge. Unfortunately, that is an issue many families in Colorado and beyond face.

The Westminster dining scene has a diverse variety of cuisines and restaurants for every budget. For example, two big bowls of delicious brisket-topped Vietnamese noodle soup cost under $30 at Pho Duy, one of our go-to eateries (while they don’t have a liquor license, you can add a juice or Vietnamese coffee to your meal for about $6 per drink). Or at GQue Barbeque, our favorite barbecue spot, a half rack of ribs, a half pound of ribs, a couple of sides and two beers will set you back $65 to $70, including tip.

Two of the best coffee shops in Westminster are Kuluka Boba & Sweets and Sweet Bloom. Kuluka has delicious (and strong) Vietnamese iced coffee, boba and other drinks, as well as some of the best mochi doughnuts in the Denver area. It also has a big, hang-out-friendly dining area furnished with comfy chairs and couches. Meanwhile, Sweet Bloom has more traditional coffee options, including a great mocha latte and a case that’s always full of tempting pastries. 

Westminster is a quintessential Colorado suburb and a lovely place to plant roots and take advantage of everything the Front Range has to offer, from urban activities such as museum hopping to fresh-air fun in the nearby mountains.

There is plenty to do for those who love the great outdoors in Westminster, including walking and biking along 120 miles of trails or teeing off at one of the five golf courses. The city also has six recreation centers and an ice center offering free public skating. Located just north of Westminster, the Boulder area also has tons of popular hiking trails.

Westminster isn’t the most walkable city, so it’s really helpful to have a car to get around (or you can also use rideshare apps such as Uber or Lyft). The public transit system also doesn’t compare to those in cities such as Salt Lake City, Seattle or Chicago, but the Regional Transportation District (RTD) has 12 bus lines that serve Westminster neighborhoods and Park-N-Rides, and there’s a commuter rail line that runs between Westminster Station and downtown Denver.

I love that residing in Westminster gives me the benefits of both worlds: the quietude of the suburbs and easy access to restaurants and activities in bustling Denver. The size of our home and backyard are also major perks that I don’t think we’d have if we chose to live in a larger city.