Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Santa Rosa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($488,100 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,024)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
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
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $2,884/yr
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
27% less violent crime than Longmont
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Households earn $2,884 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$174k less
$488,100 vs $661,700
Longmont
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.6% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$2,884
$92,604 vs $89,720/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
27% lower
342.6 vs 469.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 31.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 11. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $661,700 median home), income ($89,720 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Santa Rosa, CA are about 947 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.