Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than South Gate
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.3%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Households earn $11,789 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
South Gate, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $176/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,576)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 87°F
Cons
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Median income trails Fort Collins by $11,789/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$11,789
$78,977 vs $67,188/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
48% lower
272.7 vs 525.6 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$82k less
$497,400 vs $578,900
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Fort Collins
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 87.4°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $67,188 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 17 and South Gate wins 6. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $578,900 median home), income ($78,977 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and South Gate, CA are about 853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.