Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Paterson, NJ
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Paterson
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$52,092
Violent Crime Index
258⚠ High
Population
157,864 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,628 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.4 pts lower (4.1%)
52% less violent crime than Paterson
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Paterson
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 39°F
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
Paterson, NJ
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($314,100 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,689)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $37,628/yr
Violent crime (978.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$37,628
$89,720 vs $52,092/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
52% lower
469.3 vs 978.6 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
6.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 10.5% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.5°F
Paterson
Median Home Value
$174k less
$314,100 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Paterson, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $314,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $52,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 3.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 258⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 12.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Paterson Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 49.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 157,864 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Paterson's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 15 and Paterson 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 Paterson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $314,100 median home), income ($89,720 vs $52,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Paterson, NJ are about 1,617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.