Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $149/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,725)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Richardson
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Richardson by $15,385/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Richardson, TX
Pros
46% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Homes cost $118k less ($379,800 vs $497,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $15,385 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 45°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Richardson
Median Income
$15,385
$94,362 vs $78,977/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.7 vs 272.7 per 100k
Richardson
Median Home Value
$118k less
$379,800 vs $497,400
Richardson
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $379,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 55.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 92.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 40.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 8 and Richardson wins 15. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $379,800 median home), income ($78,977 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Richardson, TX are about 698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.