Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Irving, TX
🏆 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
Irving
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Irving, TX
Pros
Homes cost $238k less ($259,500 vs $497,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Rent averages $153/mo less ($1,423 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 45°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$2,291
$78,977 vs $76,686/yr
Irving
Median Home Value
$238k less
$259,500 vs $497,400
Irving
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Irving, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $259,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,423⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $76,686 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 14.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 40.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | IRVING ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 1.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 254,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 37.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 26.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 8.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Irving's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 13 and Irving 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 Irving or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $259,500 median home), income ($78,977 vs $76,686), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Irving, TX are about 695 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.