Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Washington
District of Columbia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Washington
Homes cost $217k less ($488,100 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $128/mo less ($1,689 vs $1,817)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
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
Median income trails Washington by $12,002/yr
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $12,002 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Longmont
Violent Crime
49% lower
469.3 vs 925.9 per 100k
Longmont
Median Home Value
$217k less
$488,100 vs $705,000
Longmont
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$12,002
$101,722 vs $89,720/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 44.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Washington wins 9. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $705,000 median home), income ($89,720 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Washington, DC are about 1,493 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.