Fort Collins, Colorado
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Fort Collins, CO.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins, CO?
For relocators asking how much Fort Collins costs: the housing index sits at 152 versus 100 nationally, with homes near $548,400 and rents near $1,661. Local median income is about $83,598 and unemployment recently ran 3.8% (U.S. 4.2%). Commutes average 20 minutes. Violent-offense rates run about 217.1 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 152U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $548,400U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,661U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $83,598U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 3.8%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 20 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 217.1per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 84°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Fort Collins compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 170,924City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $83,598Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year6% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 152ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year52% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $548,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year81% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,661City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year23% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026Near U.S. rate (4.2%)U.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3718% below catalog avgCatalog avg 45
- Violent crime rate
- 217.1per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)61% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 2172.8per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)28% below catalog avgCatalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 84°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 14°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals21.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.4 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals60% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 276As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Fort Collins grew 17.7% from 145,268 in 2010 to 170,924 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Fort Collins, CO expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Fort Collins's housing cost index is 152 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($548,400 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,661 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 152 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $548,400 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,661 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Fort Collins, CO?
Typical ownership costs center near $548,400, while median gross rent is about $1,661 a month. Against a median household income of $83,598, rent alone is roughly 24% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $548,400
- Median rent $1,661/month
- Median household income $83,598
What is the job market like in Fort Collins, CO?
County unemployment recently ran 3.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Fort Collins is about $83,598 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 3.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $83,598
How long is the typical commute in Fort Collins, CO?
Average one-way commute time is about 20 minutes, with Walk Score near 37/100. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 20 minutes average one-way
- Walk Score 37/100
Is Fort Collins, CO safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 217.1 per 100k and property about 2172.8 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 217.1 per 100k
- Property 2172.8 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Fort Collins, CO?
Normals show summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 14°F, about 13.4 inches of rain, and roughly 276 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 84°F
- Winter low 14°F
- 13.4 in rain · 276 sunny days
Fort Collins (pop. 170,924) sits in Colorado. Households here report a median income near $83,598; our housing-derived cost index is about 152 (well above the national housing-cost baseline). Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $548,400 push many newcomers toward renting first.
High plains sun and Front Range mountain access pull outdoor-oriented movers. Winter lows around 14°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Commutes average near 20 minutes one-way, with walkability near 37/100. BLS LAUS puts recent unemployment around 3.8% for the surrounding county. Violent-offense rates around 217.1 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Fort Collins is compact enough that a single wrong neighborhood choice is easy to feel day to day — visit at commute hour before signing. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Fort Collins with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Fort Collins city, 1600000US0827425) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Larimer County, July 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00094074 NUNN 7 NNE) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19