Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 16 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Salinas
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
11% less violent crime than Salinas
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $86k less ($488,100 vs $573,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Households earn $5,470 more per year on average
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
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Salinas, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$5,470
$89,720 vs $84,250/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
11% lower
469.3 vs 524.5 per 100k
Longmont
Median Home Value
$86k less
$488,100 vs $573,600
Longmont
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
20.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 70.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $84,250 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 62.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 162,783 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 31.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 29.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 16 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 16 and Salinas wins 7. 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 Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $573,600 median home), income ($89,720 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Salinas, CA are about 925 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.