Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,994
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
Homes cost $276k less ($212,500 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,161 vs $1,689)
7% less violent crime than Longmont
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $26,726/yr
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.2% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,726 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.5 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Columbus
Violent Crime
7% lower
434.9 vs 469.3 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$276k less
$212,500 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$26,726
$89,720 vs $62,994/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.2% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 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 | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ 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 | B (97) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Columbus is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $488,100 median home), income ($62,994 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Longmont, CO are about 1,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.