Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
36% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Households earn $18,790 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($171,800 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $423/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,576)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $18,790/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$18,790
$78,977 vs $60,187/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
36% lower
272.7 vs 427.2 per 100k
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$326k less
$171,800 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 93.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 44.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $171,800 median home), income ($78,977 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Pittsburgh, PA are about 1,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.