Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29 ✓ Safer
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $246/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,822)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Surprise
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Median income trails Surprise by $8,779/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Surprise, AZ
Pros
60% less violent crime than Fort Collins
Homes cost $145k less ($352,600 vs $497,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
Households earn $8,779 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Longer commutes — 30.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 101.2 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$8,779
$87,756 vs $78,977/yr
Surprise
Violent Crime
60% lower
109.1 vs 272.7 per 100k
Surprise
Median Home Value
$145k less
$352,600 vs $497,400
Surprise
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
17.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $352,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 14.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 93.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Surprise leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 9 and Surprise wins 14. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $352,600 median home), income ($78,977 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Surprise, AZ are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.