Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories
Carson
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carson, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Longmont
Households earn $13,325 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Longmont
Property crime (2930.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longmont, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Homes cost $128k less ($488,100 vs $616,000)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Rent averages $126/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,815)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Carson by $13,325/yr
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
Carson
Median Income
$13,325
$103,045 vs $89,720/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
11% lower
420.0 vs 469.3 per 100k
Longmont
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$128k less
$488,100 vs $616,000
Longmont
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.9% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
13.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $89,720 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 16.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 98,282 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 39.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories. Carson wins 8 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 Carson to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $488,100 median home), income ($103,045 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Longmont, CO are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.