Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Hoover, AL
🏆 Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Hoover
Alabama
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Hoover by $22,788/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.9%)
Hoover, AL
Pros
71% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Homes cost $131k less ($366,200 vs $497,400)
Households earn $22,788 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $224/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,576)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 92.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Hoover
Median Income
$22,788
$101,765 vs $78,977/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
71% lower
78.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
Hoover
Median Home Value
$131k less
$366,200 vs $497,400
Hoover
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Hoover, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 92.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $366,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $101,765 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 36 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A (122) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 60.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 96.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Hoover City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 59.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 91,995 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 69.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Hoover's 92.6 (US average = 100).
Hoover is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 18 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 5 and Hoover wins 18. 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 Hoover or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $366,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $101,765), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Hoover, AL are about 1,120 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.