Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Homes cost $943k less ($497,400 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1265/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,841)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $86,375/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $86,375 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 45°F
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$943k less
$497,400 vs $1,440,200
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$86,375
$165,352 vs $78,977/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
33% lower
182.0 vs 272.7 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | A- (110) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 94.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 12 and Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Santa Clara, CA are about 933 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.