Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
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.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($304,500 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,576)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 5.3%)
Median income trails Fort Collins by $7,304/yr
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,304 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Home Value
$193k less
$304,500 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$7,304
$78,977 vs $71,673/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.7 vs 539.8 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.2% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Chicago 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 Chicago to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $497,400 median home), income ($71,673 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Fort Collins, CO are about 906 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.