Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Murrieta, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Murrieta
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,925 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
111,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Rent averages $461/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,150)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Homes cost $80k less ($488,100 vs $567,700)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 Murrieta by $17,205/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Murrieta, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Longmont
Violent crime is well below the national average (183.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,205 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,150/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $567,700
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 35.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$80k less
$488,100 vs $567,700
Longmont
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.7% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 87.2°F
Murrieta
Median Income
$17,205
$106,925 vs $89,720/yr
Murrieta
Violent Crime
61% lower
183.7 vs 469.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Murrieta, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $567,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,150⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $106,925 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 35.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 13.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 47 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 29.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Murrieta Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 111,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 67.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Murrieta's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 12 and Murrieta wins 11. 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 Murrieta or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $567,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $106,925), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Murrieta, CA are about 808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.