City Comparison
Fort Collins vs Centennial
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Centennial scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fort Collins
Centennial
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Centennial is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
46% lower than in Fort Collins.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fort Collins's average rent is
21% lower than Centennial's.
| Metric | Fort Collins | Centennial | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,632 | $2,063 | -21% |
| Groceries | $402 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $1,460 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $3,794 | $2,063 | +84% |
| Cost Index | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Centennial offers 64% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Fort Collins | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $59,672 | $167,169 |
| Salary Needed | $65,280 | $0 |
| Household Income | $85,070 | $131,928 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Fort Collins runs warmer on average — a 51.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Fort Collins comes out ahead with 291 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Fort Collins sees 19.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fort Collins | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 84.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 18.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.10 in | in |
| Snowfall | 19.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 291 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 51.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Centennial.
Fort Collins scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Fort Collins leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fort Collins | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 26 min |
| Transit Score | 37.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 37.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fort Collins is the larger city
— approximately 1.6x the population of Centennial.
From a growth perspective, Centennial 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 | Fort Collins | Centennial |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 171,693 | 109,178 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.11% | 0.48% |
| Median Age | 30.9 | 42.0 |
| Unemployment | 3.70% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Centennial
Advantages
Centennial has a very low crime rate, 50% below the national average, making it one of the safest major U.S. cities.
The city boasts a high quality of life, ranked #1 in Colorado by U.S. News & World Report in 2025–2026.
Centennial has a strong job market and a high median household income of $131,928 as of 2024.
The public schools in Centennial are highly rated.
Residents benefit from a shorter average commute time (25.9 minutes) compared to the national average.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Centennial is higher than the national average, particularly for housing.
Average rent in Centennial is higher than the national average.
While public transit exists, the city still exhibits a medium car dependency.
The overall crime grade, while still good, is slightly higher than the average US city according to one source.
Some areas of Centennial have higher violent crime rates than others, particularly the northeast.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Centennial
#110Colorado, USA
66.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,063
Avg Salary
$167,169
Cost Index
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.48%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
80
Business
0
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