Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Portland, OR
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Portland
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,876
Violent Crime Index
190⚠ High
Population
646,101 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
35% less violent crime than Portland
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Homes cost $35k less ($488,100 vs $523,100)
Households earn $3,844 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Portland
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
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Portland, OR
Pros
Rent averages $159/mo less ($1,530 vs $1,689)
More college-educated — 52.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (720.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5526.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Pricier housing — median home is $523,100
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$3,844
$89,720 vs $85,876/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
35% lower
469.3 vs 720.1 per 100k
Longmont
Median Home Value
$35k less
$488,100 vs $523,100
Longmont
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 80.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Portland, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $523,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,530⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $85,876 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 219⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 16.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 52.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Portland SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 46.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 44.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 3.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 646,101 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Portland's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 13 and Portland 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 Portland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $523,100 median home), income ($89,720 vs $85,876), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Portland, OR are about 961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.