Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Modesto
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,375
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
28% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $16,345 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Modesto, CA
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($381,800 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($1,497 vs $1,689)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Longmont by $16,345/yr
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 29.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$16,345
$89,720 vs $73,375/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
28% lower
469.3 vs 655.7 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Median Home Value
$106k less
$381,800 vs $488,100
Modesto
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $381,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,497⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $73,375 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 83.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 56.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 218,308 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Modesto wins 9. 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 Longmont to Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $381,800 median home), income ($89,720 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Modesto, CA are about 872 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.