Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Richmond
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,114 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
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
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($308,300 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $462/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,689)
28% less violent crime than Longmont
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $30,114/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$30,114
$89,720 vs $59,606/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
28% lower
336.9 vs 469.3 per 100k
Richmond
Median Home Value
$180k less
$308,300 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 14.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 13 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $308,300 median home), income ($89,720 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Richmond, VA are about 1,492 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.