Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Miramar, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Fort Collins
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Miramar
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,812 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
135,158
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Miramar
Rent averages $264/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,840)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Median income trails Miramar by $2,835/yr
Miramar, FL
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($378,200 vs $497,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 45°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Households earn $2,835 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Collins
Higher rents — median is $1,840/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Miramar
Median Income
$2,835
$81,812 vs $78,977/yr
Miramar
Median Home Value
$119k less
$378,200 vs $497,400
Miramar
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Miramar
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Miramar, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $378,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,840⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $81,812 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 30.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 135,158 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 69.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Miramar's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fort Collins wins 10 and Miramar 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 Miramar or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $378,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $81,812), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Miramar, FL are about 1,738 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.