Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
19% less violent crime than Quincy
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Rent averages $325/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,901)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.3%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Homes cost $66k less ($497,400 vs $563,200)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $11,691/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,691 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Fort Collins
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
19% lower
272.7 vs 335.1 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$66k less
$497,400 vs $563,200
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.7% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$11,691
$90,668 vs $78,977/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 15.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 46.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 52.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 38.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 16 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 16 and Quincy wins 7. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $563,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Quincy, MA are about 1,757 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.