Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
31% less violent crime than Longmont
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Longmont by $9,477/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($488,100 vs $919,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $9,477 more per year on average
Rent averages $164/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,853)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Violent Crime
31% lower
322.3 vs 469.3 per 100k
Longmont
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$9,477
$89,720 vs $80,243/yr
Longmont
Median Home Value
$432k less
$488,100 vs $919,700
Longmont
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 47.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 and Longmont wins 14. 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 Boulder to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $488,100 median home), income ($80,243 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Longmont, CO are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.