Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Montgomery
Households earn $24,811 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $356k less ($141,900 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,576)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $24,811/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$24,811
$78,977 vs $54,166/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
54% lower
272.7 vs 594.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$356k less
$141,900 vs $497,400
Montgomery
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 11 and Montgomery wins 12. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $141,900 median home), income ($78,977 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Montgomery, AL are about 1,185 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.