Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Torrance
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Homes cost $474k less ($488,100 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,689 vs $2,132)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Torrance by $19,834/yr
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Torrance, CA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Longmont
Households earn $19,834 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Longmont
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Median Home Value
$474k less
$488,100 vs $962,300
Longmont
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$19,834
$109,554 vs $89,720/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
34% lower
311.2 vs 469.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 12 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 11 and Torrance wins 12. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $962,300 median home), income ($89,720 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Torrance, CA are about 851 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.