Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Reno, NV
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Reno
Nevada
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
49% less violent crime than Reno
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,904 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Reno
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Reno, NV
Pros
Rent averages $216/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,576)
Homes cost $35k less ($462,100 vs $497,400)
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $5,904/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 102.8 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$5,904
$78,977 vs $73,073/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
49% lower
272.7 vs 529.6 per 100k
Reno
Median Home Value
$35k less
$462,100 vs $497,400
Reno
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Reno, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $462,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $73,073 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 35.3% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 45.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 9.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 33.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 265,196 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Reno's 102.8 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 12 and Reno wins 11. 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 Reno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $462,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $73,073), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Reno, NV are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.