Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Greensboro, NC
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Greensboro
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
70% less violent crime than Greensboro
Households earn $23,926 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($197,200 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $528/mo less ($1,048 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 45°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $23,926/yr
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$23,926
$78,977 vs $55,051/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
70% lower
272.7 vs 923.7 per 100k
Greensboro
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Home Value
$300k less
$197,200 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Greensboro, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $197,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,048 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $55,051 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 210⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 161⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 90.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Guilford County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 7.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 297,202 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 49.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Greensboro's 92.7 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 12 and Greensboro wins 11. 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 Greensboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $197,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $55,051), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Greensboro, NC are about 1,397 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.