City Comparison
Brighton vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Brighton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Brighton
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Brighton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
29% lower than in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Brighton | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,632 | +7% |
| Groceries | $420 | $402 | +4% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $1,460 | -84% |
| Monthly Total | $2,710 | $3,794 | -29% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Brighton offers 19% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Brighton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Brighton is estimated at
$60,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Brighton | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $60,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 69,608 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $85,000 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Brighton sees 3.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Brighton | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.00°F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | 85.80°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 20.10°F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | 17.10 in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | 23.30 in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 282 | 291 |
| Humidity | 48.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Brighton.
Brighton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Brighton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Brighton | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 29 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fort Collins is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Brighton.
From a growth perspective, Brighton 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 | Brighton | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,543 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 35.5 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Brighton
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates offer better affordability compared to downtown Denver and Boulder.
Abundant outdoor recreation options including over 30 city parks and the Adams County Fairgrounds.
Strategic location along I-76 and US-85 provides convenient access to Denver International Airport and the broader metro area.
Strong sense of community highlighted by popular annual local events, farmers markets, and historic downtown revitalization.
Family-friendly neighborhoods with growing educational facilities and youth community programs.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal vehicles leads to significant commuter traffic on major highways during peak hours.
Rapid regional growth has placed upward pressure on housing costs and infrastructure development.
Limited high-end nightlife and entertainment options directly within city limits compared to central Denver.
Weather variability with occasional heavy spring snowstorms and dry summer conditions affecting local landscaping.
Public transit coverage is limited outside of commuter bus lines and major arterial corridors.
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.
Brighton
#155Colorado, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
29 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
282/yr
Avg Temp
53.00°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
75
Business
70
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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