Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 17 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
San Francisco
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $861k less ($488,100 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $627/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,316)
21% less violent crime than San Francisco
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.1%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $46,969/yr
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
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,969 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Violent Crime
21% lower
469.3 vs 596.5 per 100k
Longmont
Median Home Value
$861k less
$488,100 vs $1,348,700
Longmont
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.4% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
29.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$46,969
$136,689 vs $89,720/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 30.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 39.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 17 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 17 and San Francisco wins 6. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and San Francisco, CA are about 976 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.