Head-to-Head · City Comparison
College Station, TX
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 College Station leads 13 of 22 categories
College Station
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,397
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
120,451
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
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.
College Station, TX
Pros
Homes cost $192k less ($305,800 vs $497,400)
37% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Rent averages $447/mo less ($1,129 vs $1,576)
Violent crime is well below the national average (170.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $26,580/yr
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,580 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°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 6% higher than College Station
Key Differences at a Glance
College Station
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.7 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
College Station
Violent Crime
37% lower
170.5 vs 272.7 per 100k
College Station
Median Home Value
$192k less
$305,800 vs $497,400
College Station
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
College Station
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Median Income
$26,580
$78,977 vs $52,397/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | College Station, TX | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.7 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $305,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,129 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,397 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.9 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.3% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (129) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 58.3% |
| High School or Higher | 95.3% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLLEGE STATION ISD | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.2" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 120,451 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 22.9 | 30.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.3% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.8% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
College Station's cost of living index is 90.7 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
College Station is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, College Station leads 13 of 22 categories. College Station wins 13 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 College Station to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($305,800 vs $497,400 median home), income ($52,397 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
College Station, TX and Fort Collins, CO are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.