Longmont Colorado Relocation Guide
Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado is located just about 33 miles northwest of the State’s capital city of Denver. Longmont is a
smaller city in Colorado, surrounded by the state’s most populated municipalities: Denver, Boulder, and Fort
Collins. The population of Longmont is just under 100,000 people, making it one of the bigger towns in
Colorado.
Longmont is a great place to live with a family. It is safe, there are great schools and there is plenty to do!
Residents in Longmont have access to unparalleled outdoor activities and it is in close proximity to Denver’s
biggest cities: Denver and Boulder. A location like this can’t be beat!
ACTIVITIES
With such close proximity to the mountains in Colorado, a vibrant downtown, and exciting surrounding towns,
there is no short supply of activities to do in Longmont. Colorado. Whether you are an avid outdoor adventurer,
an art lover, or a homebody, there is a community of people and activities for you in Longmont. Here are some
of our favorites.
Art in Public Places
Art in Public Places was commissioned by the City of Longmont. This project allows residents and visitors to
submit ideas for sites for upcoming art projects. This project started back in 1987 and has been going strong ever
since. This is a great way for residents to showcase their artwork, no matter what kind of art it is! There is a
committee of residents who evaluate and approve art to be put in the public spaces around the city.
Sandstone Ranch Park
Sandstone Ranch sits on 313 acres of land full of natural, cultural and historic relevance. It is a community park
where you can enjoy traditional park experiences like going on picnics and playing on play structures. The park
is full of open spaces where you can enjoy playing recreational sports, bringing your dogs to play, and hang out!
The historic aspect of the park includes Visitors and Learning Center where you can learn about the property. It
was built in 1960 by the Coffin family as a homestead. You can learn about the early days of the homestead, the
Coffin family, and what the land was used for back then. There is a trail that takes you from the Visitors center
past several historical buildings where you can learn more about life in Longmont back then!
The Dougherty Museum
The Dougherty Museum is a museum in Longmont that showcases antique automobiles dating back to 100 years
ago. Many of the automobiles in the Dougherty Museum have been restored to running condition. It is a great
place to go to see the evolution of the automobile industry and to bring the family as a different kind of
Colorado activity.
Rabbit Mountain Open Spaces
Rabbit Mountain is situated in the eastern corner of the foothills in Longmont, Colorado. It is packed with trails
that are perfect for hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. The Ron Steward Preserve at Rabbit Mountain is a
protected area open during daytime use. Pets are allowed at the park so long as they are on a leash. Camping is
not permitted at the park, nor are fires. There are picnic tables scattered around the park, perfect for spending
the day outside with your family.
BrewHop Trolley Brewery Tours
In true Colorado fashion, a fun activity to do in Longmont is a brewery tour. Longmont is filled with breweries
that are local to Longmont and other areas of Colorado. The worst part about going on a brewery tour, is having
to figure out how you are going to get from place to place and home afterwards, without having a designated
driver. BrewHop Trolley Brewery Tours solves this issue! Hop on a trolley and take a tour of Longmont’s best
breweries, cideries, and distilleries. The trolley goes to 12 venues and gets you to each one safely. You can
reserve the trolley for a birthday event, a wedding reception, or any other event you feel like spending at a
variety of breweries!
Mile-Hi Skydiving Center
For those thrill seekers, Longmont has just the activity for you! Mile-Hi Skydiving Center allows you to dive
from 18,000 feet above sea level. This allows Mile-Hi Skydiving Center to give its adventurers one of the longest
free-falls in Colorado. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, this is the place for you.
RECREATION
There are plenty of activities to do to get out and active in Longmont, Colorado. When you live so close to the
mountains, it is hard not to take advantage of them! There are so many activities revolving around hiking,
mountain biking, and other outdoor adventures. In Longmont, there are also other recreational activities if you
are not an avid mountaineer. Below are some of the most notable recreational activities, on and off the
mountain.
Union Reservoir
Union Reservoir is 736 acres of water that provides Longmont residents with an array of outdoor recreational
activities. The reservoir was naturally carved out during the last glacial age and is actually one of the very few
natural lakes in Colorado. There are so many activities to enjoy with your family here. You can enjoy boating in
the reservoir on either a personal or rented kayak or a sailboat! You can join the sailing club to learn how to sail,
or race if you are an experienced sailor already.
Union Reservoir is a fun place for the entire family, even the dog! There is an off-leash dog park and beach, so
dogs are able to run around in the sand and go swimming. There is a separate beach area that is open for
swimming. There are lifeguards situated on this beach so parents can relax while their children are swimming in
the water.
Golfing
Longmont has three golf courses local to the city. You can enjoy a nice 18 holes or a short 9 holes at Twin Peaks
Gold, Sunset Golf Course, or Ute Creek Golf Course. Each of these courses has a stunning backdrop of the
mountains without having to travel too far out of the city.
Gyms/Recreation Centers
Longmont, Colorado offers a few gyms and recreational centers for its residents. Longmont Recreation Center is
a high-tech premiere workout facility. It has the most up to date machines and amenities. The facility includes a
babysitting area, a climbing wall, a lazy river, and even an indoor track. St. Vrain Memorial Building has a
smaller workout facility and indoor courts. Centennial Pool & Fitness Room is an indoor pool with 25-yard lap
lanes and other amenities.
GEOGRAPHY
Longmont, Colorado is located in the northeast area of Boulder County, spilling east into Weld County. The
general geography of this area of Colorado is mountainous, but flat. The elevation of Longmont is lower than its
Mile High neighbor. It sits at 4,978 feet above sea level. The whole city of Longmont is 27.6 square miles.
Longmont is situated on the plains of Colorado, similar to Boulder. That means there are plenty of beautiful
outdoor activities to enjoy! You can utilize the flat areas for long bike rides. You’re still close enough to the
mountains that you can easily go for a nice, short hike after work in the summer, or go on a harder and longer
one when you have more time.
Transportation
Longmont has an excellent public transportation system that is free to its riders! The Ride Free Longmont
provides unlimited trips on local Longmont busses. This will take you anywhere you need in Longmont.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is the public transportation system for the Denver Metro region,
which includes bus routes to Longmont and Boulder. The RTD offers local, express and regional bus services
that vary in fares. You can take the bus to Denver and easily transfer onto local bus and light rail routes to get
you around the Mile High City.
There is an additional bus route that services Longmont called FLEX. FLEX is a bus route that brings Longmont
riders to and from Fort Collins and Berthoud. This is an excellent way to access Northern Colorado without a
car.
Amenities
Given the growing population of Longmont and the growing desirability of the city, there are so many great
amenities for residents here. Living in Longmont is not just beautiful, but convenient and fun! Longmont has a
beautiful main street that is overflowing with stores, restaurants, boutiques and bars. There is a great blend of
local stores and regional and national brands.
Everything from grocery shopping to shoe shopping is convenient in Longmont. There are local grocery stores
to do some quick shopping at, as well as numerou Safeways and a King Soopers.
Main Street offers plenty of options for shopping and eating. You can find stores that specialize in biking,
outdoor activities, clothing, yarn and even guns. Main Street is littered with coffee shops that offer a nice
environment for a catch-up with a friend or a study spot.
In addition to fun spots for eating and shopping, there are numerous hospitals and medical facilities in
Longmont. Though you never want to be rushed to the hospital, you always want one close by just in case
something does happen. It is also very convenient to have dentists and primary care physicians close by so you
do not have to set aside hours for these tasks.
Cost of Living
Colorado is becoming a more and more popular place to live. As a place gets more popular to live in, the price of
living tends to go up. Best Places does an analysis of the cost of living in cities across the United States. They set
the baseline of price at 100. Cities that rest above 100 are more expensive than the average cost of living in the
United States, and cities that rest below 100 are more affordable than average. Longmont, Colorado’s cost of
living is ranked at 122. Higher than Colorado’s average of 121.1 and the United States average of 100.
Best Places also ranks different factors that go into the overall ranking, compared to the average in the United
States. Longmont, Colorado is more expensive than the average in some areas, and less expensive in others.
Health and transportation costs are actually lower than the average, with health ranking at 94.2 and
transportation ranking at 92.5. Housing in Longmont is significantly more than the average in the United States,
at 172.1. This is higher than Colorado too, which lands at 166.1. Health costs rest at 94.2, more affordable than the
national average.
AVERAGE HOME SALES
Best Places also ranks different factors that go into the overall ranking, compared to the average in the United
States. Longmont, Colorado is more expensive than the average in some areas, and less expensive in others.
Health and transportation costs are actually lower than the average, with health ranking at 94.2 and
transportation ranking at 92.5. Housing in Longmont is significantly more than the average in the United States,
at 172.1. This is higher than Colorado too, which lands at 166.1. Health costs rest at 94.2, more affordable than the
national average.
WEATHER
Like a lot of Colorado, Longmont has a fairly mild climate. The average temperatures in July are around 74
degrees with an average high of 90 degrees. The coldest month is typically December, with an average
temperature of 30 degrees, with an average low of 19 degrees. While it can get cold in Longmont in the winter
months, it experiences 300 days of sunshine, on average. Snow that falls in the winter melts quickly due to these
Colorado sunny days.
Longmont averages 15 inches of rain per year and about 36 inches of snow. This is higher than the United States
average of 28 inches on average. Longmont has a generally mild climate, making it an excellent place to make
your permanent residence!
Shopping
Shopping in Longmont consists of a great mix of locally owned shops and boutiques, as well as more traditional
mall experiences of bigger name stores. Main Street is full of unique stores that Longmont residents frequently
visit. There are beautiful antique shops, filled with unique art and furniture. There are flea markets that feature
thrifted items and local artists and vendors.
For a more traditional shopping experience, Village at the Peaks is a shopping center that offers bigger retailers,
grocery needs, restaurants, and even a gym. Here you can do some shopping, then have a nice meal at one of
Village at the Peak’s numerous dining options. There is also a movie theater. Regal Cinemas is open at Village at
the Peaks everyday from noon until 10pm.
Schools
There are a lot of schools in the Longmont District. There are 24 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 8 high
schools, and 3 alternative schools. There are also 3 community colleges in Longmont and 6 charter schools.
If your student needs special education that is not included in traditional schooling, there are plenty of options!
With 6 different charter schools to choose from and 3 community colleges, you can be sure your child will get
the education and attention they need.