Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Longmont, CO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Longmont leads 12 of 22 categories
Longmont
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Wilmington
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,812 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.1%)
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
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Homes cost $170k less ($318,600 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $476/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,689)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $30,812/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Longmont
Median Income
$30,812
$89,720 vs $58,908/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
3% lower
469.3 vs 482.8 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$170k less
$318,600 vs $488,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Longmont, CO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $488,100⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,689⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,720 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.2% ✓ Higher | 14.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.0% ✓ Higher | 43.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.5°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.1" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.4" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 98,282 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Longmont's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Longmont leads 12 of 22 categories. Longmont wins 12 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($488,100 vs $318,600 median home), income ($89,720 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Longmont, CO and Wilmington, NC are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.