Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baltimore, MD
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($202,900 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $341/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,576)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $20,628/yr
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
83% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $20,628 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Baltimore
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$295k less
$202,900 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$20,628
$78,977 vs $58,349/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
83% lower
272.7 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baltimore, MD | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $202,900 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,349 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.4% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 333⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 423⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.9% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Baltimore City Public Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.7°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.7" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 19.3" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 584,548 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 36.0 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baltimore's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Baltimore 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 Baltimore to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($202,900 vs $497,400 median home), income ($58,349 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baltimore, MD and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.