City Comparison
Longmont vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Longmont
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
26% lower than in Longmont.
Housing costs are a major driver: Longmont's average rent is
10% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Longmont | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,850 | $2,063 | -10% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,780 | $2,063 | +35% |
| Cost Index | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 57% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Longmont | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $0 |
| Household Income | $90,671 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Longmont runs warmer on average — a 50.6°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Longmont comes out ahead with 278 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Longmont sees 29.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Longmont | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.60°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.70°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 18.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 20.90 in | in |
| Snowfall | 29.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 278 | |
| Humidity | 55.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Longmont scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Longmont leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Longmont | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Centennial is the larger city
— approximately 0.9x the population of Longmont.
From a growth perspective, Longmont is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Longmont has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Longmont | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 100,109 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 40.3 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Centennial
Advantages
Centennial has a very low crime rate, 50% below the national average, making it one of the safest major U.S. cities.
The city boasts a high quality of life, ranked #1 in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report in 2025–2026.
Centennial has a strong job market and a high median household income of $131,928 as of 2024.
The public schools in Centennial are highly rated.
Residents benefit from a shorter average commute time (25.9 minutes) compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Centennial is higher than the national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent in Centennial is higher than the national average.
While public transit exists, the city still exhibits a medium car dependency.
The overall crime grade, while still good, is slightly higher than the average US city according to one source.
Some areas of Centennial have higher violent crime rates than others, particularly the northeast.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Centennial
#110Colorado, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,063
Avg Salary
$167,169
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.48%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
0
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