Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charlotte, NC
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$74,070
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Charlotte, NC
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($312,800 vs $497,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $177/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Collins by $4,907/yr
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
63% less violent crime than Charlotte
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,907 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Charlotte
Median Home Value
$185k less
$312,800 vs $497,400
Charlotte
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 97.0 on the COL index
Fort Collins
Median Income
$4,907
$78,977 vs $74,070/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
63% lower
272.7 vs 733.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charlotte, NC | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $312,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,070 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 186⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 176⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.7% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.3°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.8" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.5" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 875,045 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charlotte's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Charlotte wins 11 and Fort Collins wins 12. 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 Charlotte to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($312,800 vs $497,400 median home), income ($74,070 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charlotte, NC and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.