Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $20,127 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lafayette
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($234,900 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $554/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,576)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $20,127/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$20,127
$78,977 vs $58,850/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
74% lower
272.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$263k less
$234,900 vs $497,400
Lafayette
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 13 and Lafayette 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $234,900 median home), income ($78,977 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Lafayette, LA are about 1,023 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.