Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
San Leandro, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 18 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282 ✓ Larger
San Leandro
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $285k less ($488,100 vs $772,700)
14% less violent crime than San Leandro
Rent averages $308/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,997)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails San Leandro by $7,421/yr
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Households earn $7,421 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $1,997/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Violent Crime
14% lower
469.3 vs 548.7 per 100k
Longmont
Median Home Value
$285k less
$488,100 vs $772,700
Longmont
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
19.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 71.6°F
San Leandro
Median Income
$7,421
$97,141 vs $89,720/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | San Leandro, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $772,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,997⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $97,141 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 144⚠ 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- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 84.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | San Leandro Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 18.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 ✓ Larger | 89,723 |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 57.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Leandro's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 18 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 18 and San Leandro wins 5. 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 Leandro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $772,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $97,141), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and San Leandro, CA are about 931 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.