City Comparison
Greeley vs Fort Collins
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Greeley scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Greeley
Fort Collins
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Greeley is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
36% lower than in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Greeley | Fort Collins | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,495 | $1,632 | -8% |
| Groceries | $400 | $402 | -0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $1,460 | -84% |
| Monthly Total | $2,435 | $3,794 | -36% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 100 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Greeley offers 4% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Greeley delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Greeley is estimated at
$52,000 vs $65,280 in Fort Collins.
| Metric | Greeley | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $59,672 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $65,280 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,263 idx | 59,672 idx |
| Household Income | $69,881 | $85,070 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 1.4°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Greeley sees 0.4 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Greeley | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.70°F | 51.30°F |
| Summer High | 87.30°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 17.70°F | 18.20°F |
| Rainfall | 16.80 in | 17.10 in |
| Snowfall | 20.30 in | 19.90 in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | 291 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Fort Collins has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Greeley.
Greeley scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Greeley leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Greeley | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 37.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fort Collins is the larger city
— approximately 0.7x the population of Greeley.
From a growth perspective, Greeley 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 | Greeley | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,073 | 171,693 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 0.11% |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 30.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 3.70% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Greeley
Advantages
Median home prices and average rents remain significantly more affordable than the Colorado state average and neighboring Front Range cities.
A diversified and resilient local economy featuring major employers in food processing, energy, and healthcare.
A youthful, vibrant population and collegiate atmosphere anchored by the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College.
Extensive recreational amenities including over 30 parks, miles of trails, and cultural venues like the Union Colony Civic Center.
Recognized economic growth momentum and status as a prominent Northern Colorado regional hub.
Drawbacks
Certain industrial and agricultural operations can create localized odors and environmental management challenges across parts of the city.
Public transit options outside core areas are limited, resulting in high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commutes.
Poverty rates in specific neighborhoods remain slightly higher than the state average due to demographic shifts.
Rapid regional growth has placed upward pressure on traffic congestion along key arterial corridors during peak hours.
Proximity to heavy industrial and energy extraction sites draws ongoing debate regarding environmental and land-use policies.
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.
Greeley
#235Colorado, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
52.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
75
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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