Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 22 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Households earn $9,922 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Collins
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
25% less violent crime than Beaverton
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $87/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,663)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $9,922/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.9%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$9,922
$88,899 vs $78,977/yr
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
25% lower
272.7 vs 364.8 per 100k
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 22 categories. Beaverton wins 8 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 Beaverton to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $497,400 median home), income ($88,899 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Fort Collins, CO are about 957 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.