City Comparison
Arvada vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arvada scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arvada
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Arvada is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
19% lower than in Fort Collins.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arvada's average rent is
29% higher than Fort Collins's.
| Metric | Arvada | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,100 | $1,632 | +29% |
| Groceries | $440 | $402 | +9% |
| Utilities | $175 | $180 | -3% |
| Transport | $115 | $120 | -4% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $1,460 | -84% |
| Monthly Total | $3,070 | $3,794 | -19% |
| Cost Index | 106 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Arvada offers 31% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Arvada delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Arvada is estimated at
$65,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Arvada | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 73,585 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $117,348 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.6°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Arvada sees 5.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Arvada | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.90°F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | 87.00°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 19.30°F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | 18.30 in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | 25.10 in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | 291 |
| Humidity | 52.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Arvada.
Fort Collins scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Arvada leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Arvada | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 35.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fort Collins is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Arvada.
From a growth perspective, Arvada is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fort Collins has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Arvada | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 122,634 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.50% | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Arvada
Advantages
Median household income of $117,348 is significantly higher than the national average
Direct commuter rail connection (G Line) to downtown Denver from Olde Town
Low violent crime rate and highly secure family-oriented neighborhoods
Over 285 sunny days per year supporting an active, outdoor-centric lifestyle
Thriving historic downtown district with local craft breweries, dining, and boutiques
Drawbacks
Median home values exceeding $550,000 create high barriers to entry for first-time buyers
Car-dependent urban design outside of the Olde Town core
Higher-than-average cost of living running roughly 6% above national baselines
Commuter traffic congestion heading into the core Denver metropolitan area during peak hours
Tight housing inventory constraining options for renters and prospective buyers
Fort Collins
Advantages
Fort Collins has a lower violent crime rate than the national average.
The city's total crime rate decreased by 18.8% from 2008 to 2022.
Fort Collins has a high percentage of residents with a Bachelor's degree or higher (60.7%).
The average commute time is relatively low at 19.5 minutes.
Fort Collins is very bikeable and has several highly walkable neighborhoods.
Drawbacks
The median sales price for single-family homes increased by 1.7% in December 2024.
The cost of purchasing a home in Fort Collins has nearly doubled in the past 8 years.
Fair Market Rent prices in Fort Collins are very high compared to the national average.
The average cost of assisted living in Fort Collins is higher than both the state and national averages.
The Fort Collins, CO area's rent-to-income ratio is higher than the average for mid-sized metros, indicating less affordability.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Arvada
#201Colorado, USA
63.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,100
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
285/yr
Avg Temp
52.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
81
Business
72
Fort Collins
#421Colorado, USA
57.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,632
Avg Salary
$59,672
Cost Index
100
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
37.0/100
Walkability
37.0/100
Sunny Days
291/yr
Avg Temp
51.30°F
Pop. Growth
0.11%
Unemployment
3.70%
Livability
74
Business
68
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