Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Durham leads 13 of 22 categories
Durham
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($316,600 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $280/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Collins by $4,267/yr
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
56% less violent crime than Durham
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,267 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.3%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Home Value
$181k less
$316,600 vs $497,400
Durham
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.3% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 96.6 on the COL index
Fort Collins
Median Income
$4,267
$78,977 vs $74,710/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
56% lower
272.7 vs 619.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (113) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Durham leads 13 of 22 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $497,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Fort Collins, CO are about 1,448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.