Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Surprise
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,822)
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
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
Surprise, AZ
Pros
77% less violent crime than Longmont
Homes cost $136k less ($352,600 vs $488,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$1,964
$89,720 vs $87,756/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Surprise
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Violent Crime
77% lower
109.1 vs 469.3 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$136k less
$352,600 vs $488,100
Surprise
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $87,756 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 145,591 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 15 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 8 and Surprise wins 15. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $352,600 median home), income ($89,720 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Surprise, AZ are about 605 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.