Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Fort Collins, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fairfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,880 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Collins
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
45% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $471/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,047)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Homes cost $49k less ($497,400 vs $546,200)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $19,880/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$19,880
$98,857 vs $78,977/yr
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
45% lower
272.7 vs 498.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$49k less
$497,400 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Fort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $78,977 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 58.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 97.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Poudre School District R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F ✓ Warmer | 45.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" | 16.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 49.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 168,758 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 ✓ Older | 30.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Fort Collins's 96.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Fort Collins wins 14. 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 Fairfield to Fort Collins or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $497,400 median home), income ($98,857 vs $78,977), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Fort Collins, CO are about 918 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.