Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Springfield
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,527 more per year on average
77% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $351k less ($146,400 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $698/mo less ($878 vs $1,576)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $35,527/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$35,527
$78,977 vs $43,450/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
77% lower
272.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$351k less
$146,400 vs $497,400
Springfield
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($78,977 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Springfield, MO are about 674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.