Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Homes cost $305k less ($192,000 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $683/mo less ($893 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $29,786/yr
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $29,786 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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 3% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$305k less
$192,000 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Median Income
$29,786
$78,977 vs $49,191/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.7 vs 845.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ 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 | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $497,400 median home), income ($49,191 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,092 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.