Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Homes cost $174k less ($314,400 vs $488,100)
21% less violent crime than Longmont
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,689)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$1,962
$89,720 vs $87,758/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.8°F
Suffolk
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Violent Crime
21% lower
371.0 vs 469.3 per 100k
Suffolk
Median Home Value
$174k less
$314,400 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $314,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $87,758 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 75 ✓ 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 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 12 and Suffolk 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $314,400 median home), income ($89,720 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Suffolk, VA are about 1,552 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.