Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Fort Collins
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $191/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 87°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $14,951/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Collins
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
22% less violent crime than Bellingham
Households earn $14,951 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Homes cost $31k less ($497,400 vs $528,600)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$14,951
$78,977 vs $64,026/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.7 vs 350.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$31k less
$497,400 vs $528,600
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories. Bellingham wins 7 and Fort Collins wins 16. 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 Bellingham to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $497,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.