Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
Yonkers
New York
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208
Violent Crime Index
82
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
13% less violent crime than Yonkers
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Yonkers, NY
Pros
Homes cost $41k less ($456,500 vs $497,400)
Cons
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 34.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$769
$78,977 vs $78,208/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
13% lower
272.7 vs 311.8 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Yonkers
Median Home Value
$41k less
$456,500 vs $497,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $456,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $78,208 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 51.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 32.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 15 and Yonkers wins 8. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $456,500 median home), income ($78,977 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Yonkers, NY are about 1,625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.