Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Washington
District of Columbia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
71% less violent crime than Washington
Homes cost $208k less ($497,400 vs $705,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Rent averages $241/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,817)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $22,745/yr
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $22,745 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Fort Collins
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
71% lower
272.7 vs 925.9 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$208k less
$497,400 vs $705,000
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$22,745
$101,722 vs $78,977/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ 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) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 92.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 89.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 9.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 12 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 12 and Washington wins 11. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $705,000 median home), income ($78,977 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Washington, DC are about 1,489 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.