Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.9%)
Median income trails Peoria by $7,782/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($383,600 vs $497,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Households earn $7,782 more per year on average
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
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 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$7,782
$86,759 vs $78,977/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
7% lower
254.7 vs 272.7 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$114k less
$383,600 vs $497,400
Peoria
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.3% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 8 and Peoria wins 15. 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 Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $383,600 median home), income ($78,977 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Peoria, AZ are about 614 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.