Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
South Bend
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $40,664 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than South Bend
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than South Bend
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($113,800 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $754/mo less ($935 vs $1,689)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $40,664/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$40,664
$89,720 vs $49,056/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
51% lower
469.3 vs 965.0 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.5% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 83.0°F
South Bend
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$374k less
$113,800 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 28.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 87.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 31.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 103,084 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 15 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $113,800 median home), income ($89,720 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and South Bend, IN are about 987 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.