Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
Rent averages $307/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,576)
Homes cost $91k less ($406,000 vs $497,400)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $17,496/yr
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.3%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
14% less violent crime than Eugene
Households earn $17,496 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Home Value
$91k less
$406,000 vs $497,400
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$17,496
$78,977 vs $61,481/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
14% lower
272.7 vs 317.9 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $497,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $78,977 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 51.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 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 15 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 8 and Fort Collins wins 15. 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 Eugene to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $497,400 median home), income ($61,481 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Fort Collins, CO are about 952 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.