Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
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.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($497,400 vs $919,700)
15% less violent crime than Boulder
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,853)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$1,266
$80,243 vs $78,977/yr
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
15% lower
272.7 vs 322.3 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$422k less
$497,400 vs $919,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 30.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 8 and Fort Collins wins 15. 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 Boulder to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $497,400 median home), income ($80,243 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Fort Collins, CO are about 38 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.