Fort Collins, Colorado
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Fort Collins.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Fort Collins?
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 586.6).
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 · avg 586.6
- Summer high
- 84°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Fort Collins compares with the U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals where available; catalog-city averages for 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 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $83,598Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year6% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 152ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year52% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $548,400City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year81% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,661City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year23% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 3.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026Near U.S. avg (4.2 pts)U.S. 4.2 pts - Avg commute
- 20 min20% below U.S. avgU.S. 25 min
- Walk Score
- 3718% below U.S. avgU.S. 45
- Violent crime rate
- 217.1annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)63% below U.S. avgU.S. 586.6 - Property crime rate
- 2172.8annualized per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)30% below U.S. avgU.S. 3087.9 - Summer high
- 84°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals3.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 87°F
- Winter low
- 14°FAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals20.0°F below U.S. avgU.S. 34°F
- Annual rainfall
- 13.4 inAs of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals59% below U.S. avgU.S. 33 in
- Sunny days
- 276As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear U.S. avg (268)U.S. 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 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?
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?
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?
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 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 586.6 and 3087.9. 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?
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 Data Explorer, 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 2026-09-10 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Larimer County, July 2026 — As of 2026-09-10 · July 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019) city offenses known to law enforcement — rates per 100k; CDE API unavailable at enrich time — As of 2026-09-10 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00094074 NUNN 7 NNE) — As of 2026-09-10 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-09-10 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-09-10