Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Denver leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.7%)
Households earn $6,876 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4761.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
73% less violent crime than Denver
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Homes cost $43k less ($497,400 vs $540,400)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,665)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $6,876/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$6,876
$85,853 vs $78,977/yr
Denver
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.3% unemployment
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
73% lower
272.7 vs 993.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$43k less
$497,400 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 16.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 12 and Fort Collins wins 11. 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 Denver to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $497,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Fort Collins, CO are about 55 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.