Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($383,000 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $225/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,689)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Longmont by $10,694/yr
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
34% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $10,694 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$105k less
$383,000 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$10,694
$89,720 vs $79,026/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
34% lower
469.3 vs 715.6 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 47.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $488,100 median home), income ($79,026 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Longmont, CO are about 92 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.