Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 22 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$79,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($383,000 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $112/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
62% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$114k less
$383,000 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
62% lower
272.7 vs 715.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 49.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 22 categories. Colorado Springs wins 9 and Fort Collins wins 13. 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 Colorado Springs to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $497,400 median home), income ($79,026 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Collins, CO are about 117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.