Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
51% less violent crime than Palmdale
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($397,500 vs $497,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$563
$78,977 vs $78,414/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
51% lower
272.7 vs 551.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$100k less
$397,500 vs $497,400
Palmdale
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Palmdale wins 9. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $397,500 median home), income ($78,977 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Palmdale, CA are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.