Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Spokane
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
60% less violent crime than Spokane
Households earn $15,661 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 38°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Spokane, WA
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($286,900 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $516/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,576)
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Collins by $15,661/yr
Property crime (4840.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$15,661
$78,977 vs $63,316/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
60% lower
272.7 vs 674.9 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Spokane
Median Home Value
$211k less
$286,900 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $286,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $1,060 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $63,316 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 93.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 17.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 45.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Spokane 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 Spokane or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $286,900 median home), income ($78,977 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Spokane, WA are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.