Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 13 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Waco
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,299 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($174,100 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $651/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,689)
9% less violent crime than Longmont
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $42,299/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$42,299
$89,720 vs $47,421/yr
Waco
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
9% lower
425.9 vs 469.3 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$314k less
$174,100 vs $488,100
Waco
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 85.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 38.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Waco leads 13 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 10 and Waco wins 13. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $174,100 median home), income ($89,720 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Waco, TX are about 741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.