Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Simi Valley, CA
🏆 Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories
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
Simi Valley
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,144 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
126,153
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Rent averages $826/mo less ($1,576 vs $2,402)
Homes cost $207k less ($497,400 vs $704,200)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Simi Valley
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Simi Valley by $33,167/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.4%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Simi Valley, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Households earn $33,167 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 45°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $2,402/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $704,200
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$207k less
$497,400 vs $704,200
Simi Valley
Median Income
$33,167
$112,144 vs $78,977/yr
Simi Valley
Violent Crime
53% lower
129.1 vs 272.7 per 100k
Simi Valley
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.3% unemployment
Simi Valley
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Simi Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $704,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $112,144 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 28.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 14.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 44 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 36.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Simi Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 126,153 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 72.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Simi Valley's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Simi Valley leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 11 and Simi Valley wins 12. 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 Simi Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $704,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $112,144), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Simi Valley, CA are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.