There is a town in Boulder County, population roughly 100,000. But it’s growing, adding jobs and homes seemingly every day. The city is home to an institute of higher learning and a respected, innovative public school district. Olympic athletes and beloved celebrities have lived there, and its residents are among the happiest in the country. Most Coloradans would probably guess Boulder. But there’s another place in the county that fits the profile: Longmont.
The fast-growing city is poised to overtake its better-known neighbor as the biggest in Boulder County, if current trends continue. And despite being overshadowed by The People’s Republic in acclaim and influence, Longmont has been able to accomplish things many Boulderites only dream of.
Longmont owns its own electric utility, something Boulder spent 10 years and $33 million trying to achieve. Longmont’s municipally owned internet is among the fastest and best in the world; Boulder is still working to build out its fiber network, and will likely need to partner with the private sector to provide service. Longmont even has free buses, thanks to a partnership with RTD and the county. Boulder’s restaurant week is now kaput; Longmont’s is just getting off the ground.
Given all this — plus the far-more affordable housing and more down-home, welcoming vibes — we had to ask: Is Longmont better than Boulder?
Death and hot dogs
There’s always been a bit of rivalry between Boulder County’s two biggest cities — sometimes friendly, sometimes distinctly less so.
Outsiders have referred to Longmont as Longtucky for its agricultural roots. A turkey processing plant was located downtown on Main Street. Lifelong resident Kindra Baxter remembers the sight of plucked birds hanging from hooks and the smell that filled the town on slaughter days: Writer and artist Jenny Miyasaki described it as “death and not-right hot dogs.”
Live birds would sometimes escape and cause traffic jams, said Jonathan Singer. “That might have earned Longmont the Longtucky moniker.”
Singer, who represented Longmont in the Colorado House from 2012 to 2021, said state reps in Longmont and Boulder engaged in “fun light-hearted ribbing.” A more “bitter” rivalry still exists in the minds of some older residents, he thinks, but for the most part, “the competition between the two cities has become friendly” in recent years.
Longtucky Spirits, a downtown distillery, reclaimed the one-time pejorative. For a few years, residents played off of the world-famous Bolder Boulder 10K in hosting the 11K Longer Longmont, using it as a fundraising opportunity for local causes.
Some folks take pride in being not like Boulder. As Singer recalled, when Longmont was shopping for new slogans, “Someone wrote into the Times-Call, ‘Longmont: We’re not Boulder, but we’re not Greeley either.’”
Steak and potatoes (and tacos)
The turkey plant closed in 2011. Today, the 26-acre site is mostly apartments. Downtown is full of shops, restaurants and public art.
But Longmont’s agrarian past is still present, from the farmers market to the county fair (the state’s oldest, dating back to 1869; it was originally held in Boulder). So, too, is the small-town feel — a remarkable feat given that the population is nearing 100,000.
“I feel like I know everybody,” said Baxter, who was born and raised there and has raised three daughters in the St. Vrain Valley system (which she and Singer had nothing but praise for). “It has that small-town welcome.”
That’s what drew Devin Edgely there 10 years ago from Denton, Texas.
“Longmont is to Boulder how Denton is to Dallas,” Edgley said. “I like living next to a big city but necessarily living in a big city.”
Singer credits the city’s “down-to-earth” feel to its rural history and affordability, at least relative to Boulder. The farmers, the factory workers — they’re still here, adding to the community’s flavor. Baxter agrees.
“We are modernizing,” she said, “but the demographic and population is still steak, potatoes and beer. And tacos; of course, tacos.”
Authentic, quirky and unpretentious
All these folks — Singer, Baxter and Edgely — may live in Longmont, but they work in Boulder, still the economic powerhouse of the county. It boasts the University of Colorado, 17 federal labs and some 120,000 jobs.
“There’s more opportunities for employment and workforce development,” Edgely said. “There are different sectors of work that grab people of all interests.”
If Boulder powers the economy, Longmont houses the workers who man the station. Or at least a good bit of them.
While homes cost $1 million or more, on average, in Boulder, the median sales price in Longmont is $625,000. That can hardly be considered affordable, but it’s certainly more attainable for working professionals.
“If I could afford to live there,” Singer admits of Boulder, “I would.”
Neither he nor Baxter nor Edgley could be drawn into a definitive declaration of which town is better. Even Sarah Leonard, executive director of Visit Longmont, couldn’t be induced to express an opinion — although her elevator pitch for Longmont hints at the contrast between the two towns.
“We have the best mountain views, without bumper-to-bumper traffic,” she said. “Longmont has that authentic character; Longmont still retains its quirkiness. It’s unpretentious.”
But Longmont benefits from Boulder, Leonard said, a sentiment shared by Edgley.
“We’re close enough that some of the stuff that’s amazing about Boulder rubs off on Longmont,” Edgley said. “It would be great if some of the great things about Longmont would rub off on Boulder as well.”
A tale of two cities
Which Boulder County town has more impressive stats?
Longmont
Celebrities: Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers)
Mascot: Monty the Longmonster
World-record breaker: Saul the sticker ball
In pop culture: Prolific prank caller Longmont Potion Castle
In literature: “It was beautiful in Longmont.” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road
Boulder
Celebrities: Coach Prime, Robert Redford, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park)
Famous fictional residents: Michael Scott (The Office), Abbi Jacobson (Broad City)
Prognosticating rodents: Flatiron Freddy
In literature: The Stand and The Shining by Stephen King
In pop culture: “Pull the sheets right off the corner of the mattress that you stole / From your roommate back in Boulder.” – “Closer” by the Chainsmokers
Read more about Longmont from Boulder Weekly