Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $45,640 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Rent averages $373/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,949)
Homes cost $89k less ($497,400 vs $586,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $45,640/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.4%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$45,640
$124,617 vs $78,977/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
37% lower
172.8 vs 272.7 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$89k less
$497,400 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 97.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 16.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 14 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 14 and Fort Collins wins 9. 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 Centennial to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $497,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Fort Collins, CO are about 67 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.