Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Hesperia, CA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Hesperia
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,698
Violent Crime Index
137⚠ High
Population
99,878
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than Hesperia
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 22 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $11,279 more per year on average
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hesperia
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Hesperia, CA
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($337,600 vs $497,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,436 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (519.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $11,279/yr
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Fort Collins
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$11,279
$78,977 vs $67,698/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.7 vs 519.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 9.8% unemployment
Hesperia
Median Home Value
$160k less
$337,600 vs $497,400
Hesperia
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 96.8°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Hesperia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $337,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,436⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $67,698 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 42.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 78.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Hesperia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 96.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 11.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 99,878 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 63.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 29.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hesperia's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 13 and Hesperia wins 10. 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 Hesperia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $337,600 median home), income ($78,977 vs $67,698), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Hesperia, CA are about 794 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.