Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fishers, IN
VS
Highlands Ranch, CO
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 22 categories
Fishers
Indiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$126,548
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
99,041
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36
Population
101,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fishers, IN
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($339,000 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $875/mo less ($1,478 vs $2,353)
47% less violent crime than Highlands Ranch
Violent crime is well below the national average (72.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (2.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $21,679/yr
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $21,679 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fishers
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fishers
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fishers
Violent Crime
47% lower
72.9 vs 138.1 per 100k
Fishers
Median Home Value
$298k less
$339,000 vs $637,400
Fishers
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
2.5% vs 3.4% unemployment
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$21,679
$148,227 vs $126,548/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fishers, IN | Highlands Ranch, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $339,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $637,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,478⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,353⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $126,548 | $148,227 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% ✓ Lower | 3.4% |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.8% | 26.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 24 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 19 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 31 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | A- (114) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.5:1 | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% | 65.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.0% | 98.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton Southeastern Schools | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F | 44.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 87.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" | 18.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.7" ✓ Less | 64.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,041 | 101,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.1% | 79.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.4% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fishers's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Highlands Ranch's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fishers is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 22 categories. Fishers wins 10 and Highlands Ranch wins 12. 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 Fishers to Highlands Ranch or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($339,000 vs $637,400 median home), income ($126,548 vs $148,227), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fishers, IN and Highlands Ranch, CO are about 1,008 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.