Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Jersey City
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
51% less violent crime than Jersey City
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Rent averages $223/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,799)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $12,174/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $12,174 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.7 vs 561.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Jersey City
Median Income
$12,174
$91,151 vs $78,977/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 28.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Jersey City wins 9. 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $500,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Jersey City, NJ are about 1,617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.