Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Gilbert, AZ
🏆 Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758
Gilbert
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
267,267 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Rent averages $263/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,839)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 104°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Gilbert
Cons
Median income trails Gilbert by $36,202/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.5%)
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Gilbert, AZ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Households earn $36,202 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (132.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 45°F
Homes cost $43k less ($454,300 vs $497,400)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,839/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.5 (100 = US avg)
Gilbert
Median Income
$36,202
$115,179 vs $78,977/yr
Gilbert
Violent Crime
52% lower
132.2 vs 272.7 per 100k
Gilbert
Median Home Value
$43k less
$454,300 vs $497,400
Gilbert
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.5% vs 5.3% unemployment
Gilbert
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Gilbert, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $454,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,839⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $115,179 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 20.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 96.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Gilbert Unified District (4239) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 8.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 267,267 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Gilbert's 102.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Gilbert leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 8 and Gilbert 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 Fort Collins to Gilbert or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $454,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $115,179), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Gilbert, AZ are about 621 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.