Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Homes cost $124k less ($363,800 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $284/mo less ($1,405 vs $1,689)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 91°F
Households earn $6,011 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2765.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Longmont, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Anchorage
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 21°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$6,011
$95,731 vs $89,720/yr
Anchorage
Median Home Value
$124k less
$363,800 vs $488,100
Longmont
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Violent Crime
54% lower
469.3 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $89,720 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 47.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 8 and Longmont wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anchorage to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $488,100 median home), income ($95,731 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Longmont, CO are about 2,347 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.