Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
64% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Households earn $21,823 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $284k less ($213,300 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $351/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,576)
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $21,823/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$21,823
$78,977 vs $57,154/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
64% lower
272.7 vs 752.4 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$284k less
$213,300 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 50.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 3.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 13 and Portsmouth wins 10. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $213,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Portsmouth, VA are about 1,562 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.