Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Fort Collins
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $411k less ($86,200 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $746/mo less ($830 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $37,534/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.3%)
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,534 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.7 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°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 4% higher than Dayton
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.3 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Dayton
Median Home Value
$411k less
$86,200 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Median Income
$37,534
$78,977 vs $41,443/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
80% lower
272.7 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
4.7 pp lower
5.3% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Dayton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Fort Collins wins 16. 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 Dayton to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $497,400 median home), income ($41,443 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.