Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Oceanside, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Oceanside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,701
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
173,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($488,100 vs $644,600)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,078)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Oceanside
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
Oceanside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (458.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $644,600
Higher rents — median is $2,078/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$3,019
$89,720 vs $86,701/yr
Longmont
Median Home Value
$157k less
$488,100 vs $644,600
Longmont
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
14.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 76.5°F
Oceanside
Violent Crime
2% lower
458.7 vs 469.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Oceanside, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $644,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,078⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $86,701 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 13.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C (76) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 27.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Scholarship Prep - Oceanside District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 66.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 11.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 173,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Oceanside's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 15 and Oceanside wins 8. 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 Oceanside or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $644,600 median home), income ($89,720 vs $86,701), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Oceanside, CA are about 828 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.