https://longmontcolorado.gov/

Longmont sits at the southern edge of the Northern Colorado region, straddling Boulder and Weld counties, with Longs Peak visible on the horizon on a clear day — which is most days, given the area's 300-plus days of sunshine per year. It's the largest and southernmost city in this six-town series, and it brings a different flavor: more urban amenities, a stronger tech-industry presence, and closer proximity to Boulder and Denver.

The Vibe: Tech Jobs, Mountain Views, and a Genuine Downtown

Longmont was founded in 1871 by a group of Chicago colonists and incorporated in 1885, taking its name from Longs Peak — "mont" being French for mountain. With a population approaching 99,000, it's by far the largest city in this series, and it feels like it: a real historic Main Street, over 1,500 acres of parks and open space, and a growing roster of high-tech employers that has earned parts of the region the nickname "Colorado's Silicon Mountain."

Despite the scale, Longmont hasn't lost its small-town texture. Historic Main Street still anchors downtown with locally owned shops and restaurants, and the city's extensive trail system and open space make it just as outdoor-oriented as its smaller neighbors. Longmont is roughly 37 miles from Denver, 16 miles from Boulder, and 30 miles from Trail Ridge Road — a genuinely central location for anyone who splits time between the mountains, Boulder, and the Front Range.

Learn More From the City Itself

For permits, city services, and everything Longmont-related, start here: 👉 longmontcolorado.gov

The Iconic Event: Longmont Independence Weekend

Longmont's biggest civic event is its Independence Weekend celebration, a multi-day, city-run production that's grown into one of the most elaborate Fourth of July celebrations in Northern Colorado. It kicks off July 3 with a free Backyard Concert at Roosevelt Park, followed by a Family Festival on 2nd Avenue with two stages of live music, 20-plus local food and drink vendors, and a specially choreographed drone show performed by local high school students from the St. Vrain Valley School District's Innovation Center — a genuinely unique touch that sets Longmont's celebration apart. The Longmont Symphony Orchestra and Longmont Chorale also perform, closing the night with cannon blasts synced to the 1812 Overture.

Beyond the Fourth of July, Longmont hosts a full annual calendar including the Colorado Tartan Day Festival each April at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, Longmont Pride in June, and the Longmont Lights Festival and Parade each December to kick off the holiday season.

Full events calendar: visitlongmont.org/events/annual

New Construction in Longmont

As the largest and most established city in this series, Longmont's new construction market looks a bit different — more variety in product type, with condos, townhomes, and single-family homes all represented across dozens of communities. Highlights include:

• Landmark Homes — The most active builder in Longmont, with multiple single-family and townhome communities across the city.
• Dream Finders Homes — Offers both spacious single-family homes and low-maintenance townhomes in communities close to everything Longmont has to offer.
• KB Home — Known locally for communities like Prairie Village Villas, a townhome-style development in the city.
• D.R. Horton — Active in Longmont with a range of single-family options.
• Brookfield Residential and New Leaf Properties — Round out the builder mix, with New Leaf focused on custom and multi-family infill development within the city.

As of spring 2026, Longmont's overall median sale price sits around $571,000, with new construction offering long-term advantages over the city's older housing stock — much of which dates to the mid-20th century — including modern energy codes that can meaningfully lower utility costs.

Bottom Line

Longmont offers the most city-scale amenities of any town in this series, without losing its historic downtown character or its mountain views. If you've been following this series and weighing Timnath, Loveland, Windsor, Severance, and Fort Collins against each other, Longmont is worth a look if proximity to Boulder and Denver matters more than staying deep in Larimer County. Let's talk about which of these six towns actually fits how you live.