Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Waterbury
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,269 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($162,800 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,689)
31% less violent crime than Longmont
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $38,269/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.1%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$38,269
$89,720 vs $51,451/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
5.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 9.8% unemployment
Longmont
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Violent Crime
31% lower
322.5 vs 469.3 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$325k less
$162,800 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 46.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Waterbury 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $162,800 median home), income ($89,720 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.