Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Sacramento
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
38% less violent crime than Sacramento
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $10,766 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Homes cost $38k less ($450,500 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $97/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,689)
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Longmont by $10,766/yr
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$10,766
$89,720 vs $78,954/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
38% lower
469.3 vs 754.9 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Sacramento
Median Home Value
$38k less
$450,500 vs $488,100
Sacramento
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $450,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Sacramento wins 8. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $450,500 median home), income ($89,720 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Sacramento, CA are about 880 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.