Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Lakewood
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lakewood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Rent averages $89/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,665)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Median income trails Lakewood by $3,809/yr
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Households earn $3,809 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Snowy winters — about 58" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
65% lower
272.7 vs 787.2 per 100k
Lakewood
Median Income
$3,809
$82,786 vs $78,977/yr
Lakewood
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $494,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 93.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 17.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 156,149 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 17 and Lakewood wins 6. 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 Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $494,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Lakewood, CO are about 59 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.