City Comparison
Denver vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Denver scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Denver
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Denver is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
24% lower than in Fort Collins.
Housing costs are a major driver: Denver's average rent is
21% higher than Fort Collins's.
| Metric | Denver | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,975 | $1,632 | +21% |
| Groceries | $400 | $402 | -0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $90 | $120 | -25% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $1,460 | -85% |
| Monthly Total | $2,865 | $3,794 | -24% |
| Cost Index | 106 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Denver offers 36% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Denver delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Denver is estimated at
$65,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Denver | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $81,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $65,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 76,415 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $94,718 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.9°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Denver sees 2.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Denver | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | 87.50°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 19.40°F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | 16.90 in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | 22.70 in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | 291 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Denver.
Denver scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Denver leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Denver | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 58.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Denver is the larger city
— approximately 4.3x the population of Fort Collins.
From a growth perspective, Denver 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 | Denver | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 740,613 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.90% | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Denver
Advantages
Median household income stands at $94,718, significantly outpacing the national average per U.S. Census data.
Enjoyment of approximately 285 sunny days per year, supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Proximity to world-class Rocky Mountain recreation, including premier skiing, hiking, and biking destinations.
Thriving job market with strong sectors in aerospace, technology, and healthcare offering competitive wages.
Vibrant cultural and entertainment ecosystem highlighted by the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre and a thriving craft beverage scene.
Drawbacks
Cost of living runs roughly 6% higher than the national average, led by steep housing and rental expenses.
Median home values of $616,000 present substantial barriers to entry for first-time homebuyers.
Frequent traffic congestion along major commuter corridors like I-25 and I-70 during peak hours.
Air quality can occasionally be impacted by regional wildfire smoke and temperature inversions in the mountain basin.
Property crime rates in certain dense urban neighborhoods require standard metropolitan vigilance.
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.
Denver
#356Colorado, USA
59.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$81,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
285/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
82
Business
75
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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