Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buffalo, NY
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Buffalo
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,184
Violent Crime Index
186⚠ High
Population
276,688 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
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.
Buffalo, NY
Pros
Homes cost $365k less ($132,100 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $634/mo less ($942 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.5:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $32,793/yr
Violent crime (706.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3809.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.0% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $32,793 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Buffalo
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
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 2% higher than Buffalo
Key Differences at a Glance
Buffalo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Buffalo
Median Home Value
$365k less
$132,100 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Median Income
$32,793
$78,977 vs $46,184/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
61% lower
272.7 vs 706.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.0% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 80.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buffalo, NY | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $132,100 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,184 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 184⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 186⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BUFFALO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.1°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 80.2°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 95.4" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,688 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.6% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.3% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buffalo's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Buffalo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Buffalo 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 Buffalo to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($132,100 vs $497,400 median home), income ($46,184 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buffalo, NY and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.