City Comparison
Boulder vs Longmont
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Longmont scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Boulder
Longmont
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Longmont is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
18% lower than in Boulder.
Housing costs are a major driver: Boulder's average rent is
29% higher than Longmont's.
| Metric | Boulder | Longmont | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,395 | $1,850 | +29% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $110 | +9% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $240 | +4% |
| Monthly Total | $3,395 | $2,780 | +22% |
| Cost Index | 128 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Boulder offers 8% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Longmont delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Boulder is estimated at
$68,000 vs $62,000 in Longmont.
| Metric | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $72,000 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,938 idx | 68,571 idx |
| Household Income | $87,493 | $90,671 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.1°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder sees 1.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.50°F | 50.60°F |
| Summer High | 84.20°F | 84.70°F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | 18.40°F |
| Rainfall | 16.60 in | 20.90 in |
| Snowfall | 31.20 in | 29.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | 278 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 55.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Boulder has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Longmont.
Boulder scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Boulder leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Boulder is the larger city
— approximately 1.1x the population of Longmont.
From a growth perspective, Longmont is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Boulder | Longmont |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,689 | 100,109 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 40.3 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.10% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Boulder
Advantages
Unmatched access to open space and outdoor recreation, with over 300 days of annual sunshine and miles of direct trail access.
Exceptionally high educational attainment levels, with over 75% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or advanced qualification.
Thriving innovation and tech startup ecosystem fueled by proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder and federal research labs.
Robust multi-modal transportation infrastructure featuring extensive bike paths, pedestrian corridors, and reliable regional transit.
Active, health-conscious community culture emphasizing sustainability, organic foods, and active wellness.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing market pressures, with average monthly rent exceeding $2,300.
Limited ethnic and racial diversity compared to broader metropolitan benchmarks in Colorado.
Competitive real estate environment making homeownership challenging for median-income earners.
Traffic congestion along major regional corridors during peak commuting hours to and from Denver.
Strict growth boundaries driving up commercial lease rates for local small businesses and startups.
Longmont
Advantages
Median home prices and rent values remain noticeably more affordable than in nearby Boulder per regional housing data.
Extensive citywide gigabit broadband infrastructure (NextLight) supports robust remote work and tech enterprise.
Proximity to the Rocky Mountains provides world-class outdoor recreation within a 50-minute drive.
High concentration of advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and healthcare jobs bolstering career opportunities.
Top-tier local education via the St. Vrain Valley School District with exceptional graduation rates.
Drawbacks
Housing costs run roughly 5% to 10% above the national average, placing pressure on lower-income households.
Rental vacancy rates remain tight, impacting immediate housing availability for newcomers.
Car dependency is relatively high for daily errands outside of the immediate downtown core.
Occasional heavy winter snowstorms and variable Front Range weather require proactive commuting precautions.
Modest traffic bottlenecks during peak commuting hours along primary corridors connecting to Boulder and Denver.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Boulder
#467Colorado, USA
54.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,395
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
50.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
88
Business
80
Longmont
#217Colorado, USA
63.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,850
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
105
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
278/yr
Avg Temp
50.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
78
Business
75
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