Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Palm Bay
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,182 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $262k less ($226,200 vs $488,100)
26% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,689)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 45°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $27,182/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$27,182
$89,720 vs $62,538/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
26% lower
347.2 vs 469.3 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$262k less
$226,200 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 8 and Palm Bay wins 15. 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $226,200 median home), income ($89,720 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.