Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Longmont leads 16 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
St. Paul
Minnesota
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
24% less violent crime than St. Paul
Households earn $19,801 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 24°F
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
St. Paul, MN
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($264,900 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $515/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,689)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Longmont by $19,801/yr
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.0% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Income
$19,801
$89,720 vs $69,919/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
24% lower
469.3 vs 617.7 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.0% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Home Value
$223k less
$264,900 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $264,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,174 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $69,919 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 23.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 15.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 42.8% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 29.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 40.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 16 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 16 and St. Paul wins 7. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $264,900 median home), income ($89,720 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and St. Paul, MN are about 693 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.