Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758
Irvine
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $528k less ($497,400 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1173/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,749)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $43,971/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Irvine, CA
Pros
69% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Households earn $43,971 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$528k less
$497,400 vs $1,025,700
Irvine
Median Income
$43,971
$122,948 vs $78,977/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
69% lower
84.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 96.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irvine leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 11 and Irvine wins 12. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($78,977 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Irvine, CA are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.