Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($270,700 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $271/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $14,992/yr
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
59% less violent crime than Dallas
Households earn $14,992 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 97°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
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
Dallas
Median Home Value
$227k less
$270,700 vs $497,400
Dallas
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 87.4°F
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$14,992
$78,977 vs $63,985/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
59% lower
272.7 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 10 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 Dallas to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $497,400 median home), income ($63,985 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Fort Collins, CO are about 705 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.