Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Pompano Beach, FL
🏆 Fort Collins leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Pompano Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,155
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
111,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Households earn $17,822 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pompano Beach
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Pompano Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $204k less ($293,300 vs $497,400)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $17,822/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$17,822
$78,977 vs $61,155/yr
Fort Collins
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 8.7% unemployment
Pompano Beach
Median Home Value
$204k less
$293,300 vs $497,400
Pompano Beach
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Pompano Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $293,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,527⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $61,155 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 30.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 85.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 55.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 111,790 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Pompano Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Collins wins 11 and Pompano Beach 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 Pompano Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $293,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $61,155), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Pompano Beach, FL are about 1,735 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.