Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 18 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.6% vs 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,754 more per year on average
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
Longmont
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$2,754
$89,720 vs $86,966/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
4% lower
469.3 vs 489.7 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ 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 | 18.0:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 18 of 23 categories. Kent wins 5 and Longmont wins 18. 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 Kent to Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $488,100 median home), income ($86,966 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Longmont, CO are about 986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.