Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Longmont
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $11,089 more per year on average
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
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($347,000 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,689)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Longmont by $11,089/yr
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$11,089
$89,720 vs $78,631/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
4% lower
469.3 vs 488.8 per 100k
Raleigh
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Home Value
$141k less
$347,000 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $347,000⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $78,631 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 49.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 4.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Longmont wins 11 and Raleigh wins 11. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $347,000 median home), income ($89,720 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Raleigh, NC are about 1,466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.