Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $22,651 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than McAllen
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($158,700 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $621/mo less ($955 vs $1,576)
45% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 45°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $22,651/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$22,651
$78,977 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
45% lower
150.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$339k less
$158,700 vs $497,400
McAllen
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 31.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 27.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 9 and McAllen wins 14. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $158,700 median home), income ($78,977 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and McAllen, TX are about 1,064 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.