Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 22 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
Salt Lake City
Utah
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
68% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,620 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 3.6%)
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,254 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.6%)
Homes cost $39k less ($458,600 vs $497,400)
Cons
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Fort Collins by $6,620/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$6,620
$78,977 vs $72,357/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
68% lower
272.7 vs 864.2 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Median Home Value
$39k less
$458,600 vs $497,400
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $458,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,254 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $72,357 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 15.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 50.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 17.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 49.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 201,269 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 22 categories. Fort Collins wins 13 and Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($78,977 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Salt Lake City, UT are about 360 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.