Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than New Haven
Households earn $24,672 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
New Haven, CT
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($236,500 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $174/mo less ($1,402 vs $1,576)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $24,672/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$24,672
$78,977 vs $54,305/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.7 vs 534.8 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.8% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Median Home Value
$261k less
$236,500 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $236,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,402⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 33.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 31.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 17 and New Haven wins 6. 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $236,500 median home), income ($78,977 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and New Haven, CT are about 1,669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.