Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Tucson
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,671 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Tucson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°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
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($218,200 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($991 vs $1,689)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 45°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $37,671/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$37,671
$89,720 vs $52,049/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
20% lower
469.3 vs 588.8 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.5% unemployment
Tucson
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$270k less
$218,200 vs $488,100
Tucson
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 13 and Tucson wins 10. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $218,200 median home), income ($89,720 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Tucson, AZ are about 640 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.