Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Sandy, UT
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Sandy
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Sandy
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $29,188/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 2.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Sandy, UT
Pros
Households earn $29,188 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (2.2%)
10% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$29,188
$108,165 vs $78,977/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
10% lower
246.7 vs 272.7 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
2.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Sandy
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.7°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Sandy, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $492,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,640⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $108,165 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 2.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 17.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (102) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 95.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Canyons District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 90.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 21.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" ✓ Less | 81.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 95,635 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 76.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Sandy's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Fort Collins wins 11 and Sandy 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 Sandy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $492,300 median home), income ($78,977 vs $108,165), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Sandy, UT are about 356 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.