Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$89,720
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Westminster
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
115,502 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
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
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Westminster, CO
Pros
35% less violent crime than Longmont
Homes cost $21k less ($467,200 vs $488,100)
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Longmont
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Westminster
Median Income
$931
$90,651 vs $89,720/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
35% lower
303.6 vs 469.3 per 100k
Westminster
Median Home Value
$21k less
$467,200 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | 80 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ 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 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 115,502 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Longmont is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 22 categories. Longmont wins 14 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $467,200 median home), income ($89,720 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Westminster, CO are about 20 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.