City Comparison
Boulder vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fort Collins scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Boulder
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Boulder is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Fort Collins.
Housing costs are a major driver: Boulder's average rent is
47% higher than Fort Collins's.
| Metric | Boulder | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,395 | $1,632 | +47% |
| Groceries | $450 | $402 | +12% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $1,460 | -83% |
| Monthly Total | $3,395 | $3,794 | -11% |
| Cost Index | 128 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Boulder offers 31% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Boulder delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Boulder is estimated at
$68,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Boulder | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $68,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 60,938 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $87,493 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.8°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Boulder sees 11.3 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Boulder | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 50.50°F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | 84.20°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 19.20°F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | 16.60 in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | 31.20 in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | 291 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Boulder scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Boulder leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Boulder | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 68.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fort Collins is the larger city
— approximately 0.6x the population of Boulder.
From a growth perspective, Fort Collins 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 | Boulder | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 105,689 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | — | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Boulder
Advantages
Unmatched access to open space and outdoor recreation, with over 300 days of annual sunshine and miles of direct trail access.
Exceptionally high educational attainment levels, with over 75% of residents holding a bachelor's degree or advanced qualification.
Thriving innovation and tech startup ecosystem fueled by proximity to the University of Colorado Boulder and federal research labs.
Robust multi-modal transportation infrastructure featuring extensive bike paths, pedestrian corridors, and reliable regional transit.
Active, health-conscious community culture emphasizing sustainability, organic foods, and active wellness.
Drawbacks
Significantly high cost of living and housing market pressures, with average monthly rent exceeding $2,300.
Limited ethnic and racial diversity compared to broader metropolitan benchmarks in Colorado.
Competitive real estate environment making homeownership challenging for median-income earners.
Traffic congestion along major regional corridors during peak commuting hours to and from Denver.
Strict growth boundaries driving up commercial lease rates for local small businesses and startups.
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.
Boulder
#467Colorado, USA
54.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,395
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
128
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
68.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
50.50°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
88
Business
80
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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