Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Pasadena, 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
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $484k less ($497,400 vs $981,600)
43% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $524/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,100)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $18,841/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,841 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
43% lower
272.7 vs 480.4 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$484k less
$497,400 vs $981,600
Pasadena
Median Income
$18,841
$97,818 vs $78,977/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Pasadena, 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 ✓ Lower | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 54.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 68.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 89.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 20.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 137,554 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Pasadena'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 Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($78,977 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Pasadena, CA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.