Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Norwalk
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
101,893 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $105k less ($488,100 vs $593,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,860)
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
Norwalk, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Longmont
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Longmont
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$105k less
$488,100 vs $593,100
Longmont
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$1,539
$91,259 vs $89,720/yr
Norwalk
Violent Crime
20% lower
374.4 vs 469.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 76.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 101,893 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 13 and Norwalk wins 10. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $593,100 median home), income ($89,720 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Norwalk, CA are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.