Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 22 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Manchester
New Hampshire
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
19% less violent crime than Manchester
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 32°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Manchester
Households earn $4,937 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Manchester, NH
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($304,700 vs $497,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,576)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Fort Collins
Median income trails Fort Collins by $4,937/yr
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$4,937
$78,977 vs $74,040/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
19% lower
272.7 vs 336.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Home Value
$193k less
$304,700 vs $497,400
Manchester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $304,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $74,040 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 42.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 115,037 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 22 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Manchester wins 8. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $304,700 median home), income ($78,977 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Manchester, NH are about 1,729 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.