Denver vs Fort Collins
Denver, Colorado versus Fort Collins, Colorado: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Fort Collins edges out Denver on overall objective livability (52 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Denver | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $86k | $79k |
| Cost of Living | $60k | $60k |
| Home Value | $540k | $497k |
| Monthly Rent | $2k | $2k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.45% | 0.53% |
| Income Tax | 4.90% | 4.40% |
| Sales Tax | 7.81% | 7.81% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 10.33% | 10.29% |
| Unemployment | 4.7% | 5.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 32°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 66°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4 in | 16.4 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0 in | 49.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 217 days | 271 days |
| Summer Humidity | 48°F | 47°F |
| Comfortable Days | 38 days | 38 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 53.3 | 34.0 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 39 AQI |
| School Quality | 71.5 | 63.1 |
| Violent Crime | 2034/100k | 990/100k |
| Property Crime | 6437/100k | 2616/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 710,800 | 168,758 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 30.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.54 | 0.30 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.02 | 1.01 |
| Political Leaning | D+63 | D+16 |
| White (%) | 53.9% | 78.0% |
| Black (%) | 8.5% | 1.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 29.2% | 12.4% |
| Asian (%) | 3.5% | 3.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 25 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 12.7/20 | 13.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 12 mi | 53 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 91.3% | 91.6% |
| Amenities Nearby | 9.64 | 27.02 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Denver or Fort Collins more affordable?
- Fort Collins has the lower cost of living: its index is $60k, compared with Denver's $60k and Fort Collins's $60k. Median rent is $2k in Denver versus $2k in Fort Collins.
- Is Denver or Fort Collins safer?
- Fort Collins has the lower violent crime rate. Denver reports 2034/100k and Fort Collins reports 990/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Denver or Fort Collins?
- The median home value is $540k in Denver and $497k in Fort Collins, so homes are more affordable in Fort Collins.