Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $27,037 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.8%)
Cons
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $56k less ($497,400 vs $553,000)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Rent averages $130/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,706)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $27,037/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.8%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$27,037
$106,014 vs $78,977/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
5% lower
272.7 vs 285.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$56k less
$497,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 9 and Fort Collins wins 14. 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 Arvada to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $497,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Fort Collins, CO are about 50 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.