Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $31,819 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% less violent crime than Longmont
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $510k less ($488,100 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $939/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,628)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $31,819/yr
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
Higher unemployment (4.1% vs 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$31,819
$121,539 vs $89,720/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
7% lower
436.7 vs 469.3 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.1% unemployment
Longmont
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$510k less
$488,100 vs $997,600
Longmont
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $89,720 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 47.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Longmont wins 13. 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 Cambridge to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $488,100 median home), income ($121,539 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Longmont, CO are about 1,759 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.