Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Santa Maria
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
29% less violent crime than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Households earn $8,483 more per year on average
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
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Homes cost $50k less ($438,100 vs $488,100)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Longmont
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$8,483
$89,720 vs $81,237/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
29% lower
469.3 vs 660.6 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
17.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Home Value
$50k less
$438,100 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $438,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $81,237 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 15 and Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $438,100 median home), income ($89,720 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Santa Maria, CA are about 913 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.