Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
76% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,649 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 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($351,400 vs $497,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $184/mo less ($1,392 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Collins by $7,649/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$7,649
$78,977 vs $71,328/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
76% lower
272.7 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Nashville-Davidson
Median Home Value
$146k less
$351,400 vs $497,400
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $351,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,392⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $71,328 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 15.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 45.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 89.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 4.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fort Collins wins 11 and Nashville-Davidson wins 11. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $351,400 median home), income ($78,977 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 1,033 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.