Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $34,202 more per year on average
20% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Collins
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($497,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $407/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $34,202/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$34,202
$113,179 vs $78,977/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
20% lower
219.1 vs 272.7 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$158k less
$497,400 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Fort Collins wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $497,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,486 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.