Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories
Longmont
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Rochester
Minnesota
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 23°F
Households earn $5,747 more per year on average
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
Rochester, MN
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($268,800 vs $488,100)
67% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,689)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $5,747/yr
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$5,747
$89,720 vs $83,973/yr
Longmont
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Violent Crime
67% lower
154.0 vs 469.3 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$219k less
$268,800 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $268,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $83,973 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 50 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 14 of 22 categories. Longmont wins 8 and Rochester wins 14. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $268,800 median home), income ($89,720 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Rochester, MN are about 699 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.