Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Pearland by $32,146/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Pearland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($311,100 vs $497,400)
65% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Households earn $32,146 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$32,146
$111,123 vs $78,977/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
65% lower
95.9 vs 272.7 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$186k less
$311,100 vs $497,400
Pearland
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Pearland
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.3°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 94.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pearland leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 9 and Pearland wins 14. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $311,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Pearland, TX are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.