Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Hillsboro, OR
🏆 Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Hillsboro
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
106,612
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
14% less violent crime than Hillsboro
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $221/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,797)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Hillsboro
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hillsboro by $19,914/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Hillsboro, OR
Pros
Households earn $19,914 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $45k less ($452,300 vs $497,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,797/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
14% lower
272.7 vs 317.7 per 100k
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.1°F
Hillsboro
Median Income
$19,914
$98,891 vs $78,977/yr
Hillsboro
Median Home Value
$45k less
$452,300 vs $497,400
Hillsboro
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Hillsboro, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $452,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,797⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $98,891 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 17.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 41.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Hillsboro SD 1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 47.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 35.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 2.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 106,612 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hillsboro's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 16 and Hillsboro wins 7. 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 Hillsboro or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $452,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $98,891), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Hillsboro, OR are about 963 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.