Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Roanoke, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Roanoke
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,197 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Roanoke
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($162,000 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($917 vs $1,689)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $38,197/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$38,197
$89,720 vs $51,523/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
24% lower
469.3 vs 620.4 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$326k less
$162,000 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 14.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 99,213 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 13 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $162,000 median home), income ($89,720 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Roanoke, VA are about 1,365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.