Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Birmingham, AL
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Birmingham
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,464
Violent Crime Index
328⚠ High
Population
200,431 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
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.
Birmingham, AL
Pros
Homes cost $374k less ($123,000 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($995 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 45°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $36,513/yr
Violent crime (1246.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4031.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,513 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Birmingham
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Birmingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Birmingham
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Birmingham
Median Home Value
$374k less
$123,000 vs $497,400
Birmingham
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Median Income
$36,513
$78,977 vs $42,464/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
78% lower
272.7 vs 1246.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Birmingham, AL | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $123,000 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,464 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 328⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.1% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Birmingham City | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.5°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 58.1" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.4" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 200,431 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 35.9 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.9% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Birmingham's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Birmingham is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Birmingham wins 10 and Fort Collins wins 13. 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 Birmingham to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($123,000 vs $497,400 median home), income ($42,464 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Birmingham, AL and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.