Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
10% less violent crime than Westminster
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $156/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,732)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $11,674/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.1%)
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $11,674 more per year on average
Homes cost $30k less ($467,200 vs $497,400)
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,732/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
10% lower
272.7 vs 303.6 per 100k
Westminster
Median Income
$11,674
$90,651 vs $78,977/yr
Westminster
Median Home Value
$30k less
$467,200 vs $497,400
Westminster
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.3% unemployment
Westminster
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $467,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,732⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $90,651 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 15.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 42.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 92.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Westminster 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $467,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Westminster, CO are about 46 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.