Boulder, CO vs Fort Collins, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | BoulderBoulder, CO | Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Good | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Moderate | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
-0.7% job growth in Boulder, CO contrasts with +0.3% in Fort Collins, CO, a 1.0-point difference in 2023 Census figures. Boulder’s per-capita income of $59,450 is 28% higher than Fort Collins’ $46,341, placing Boulder in the 87th percentile and Fort Collins in the 71st. The poverty rate in Boulder is 21.8%, 5.8 points higher than Fort Collins’ 16.0%, with Boulder in the 86th percentile and Fort Collins in the 70th. Work-from-home rates also diverge: 31.6% in Boulder versus 20.2% in Fort Collins, an 11.4-point gap, putting Boulder in the 97th percentile and Fort Collins in the 84th.
Property crime per 100,000 people is 2,399 in Boulder, 36% higher than Fort Collins’ 1,768, with Boulder in the 85th percentile and Fort Collins in the 68th. Healthcare access scores show Boulder at 100/100, 8 points higher than Fort Collins’ 92/100, placing Boulder in the 90th percentile and Fort Collins in the 65th. Air quality index values are 49 in Boulder and 54 in Fort Collins, making Fort Collins 10% higher, with Fort Collins in the 90th percentile and Boulder in the 78th.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 23994th pctl | 16483rd pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Boulder, CO 239; Fort Collins, CO 164; Boulder is 46% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $982,60095th pctl | $548,40085th pctl | Median home value: Boulder, CO $982,600; Fort Collins, CO $548,400; Boulder is 79% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,92490th pctl | $1,66178th pctl | Median rent: Boulder, CO $1,924; Fort Collins, CO $1,661; Boulder is 16% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $85,36465th pctl | $83,59863rd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $150,91995th pctl | $102,12686th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Boulder, CO $150,919; Fort Collins, CO $102,126; Boulder is 48% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $221,85195th pctl | $150,12586th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Boulder, CO $221,851; Fort Collins, CO $150,125; Boulder is 48% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Boulder, CO F; Fort Collins, CO D; Fort Collins is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Fort Collins needs about
$51,500
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 239 vs 164). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 4.1%70th pctl | 3.9%62nd pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | -0.7%9th pctl | +0.3%29th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Boulder, CO -0.7%; Fort Collins, CO +0.3%; Fort Collins is 1.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $59,45087th pctl | $46,34171st pctl | Per-capita income: Boulder, CO $59,450; Fort Collins, CO $46,341; Boulder is 28% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 21.8%86th pctl | 16.0%70th pctl | Poverty rate: Boulder, CO 21.8%; Fort Collins, CO 16.0%; Boulder is 5.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 19 min20th pctl | 20 min27th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 31.6%97th pctl | 20.2%84th pctl | Work from home: Boulder, CO 31.6%; Fort Collins, CO 20.2%; Boulder is 11.4 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Strong | Stable | Economic opportunity: Boulder, CO B; Fort Collins, CO C+; Boulder is graded higher. |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 35371st pctl | 28660th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Boulder, CO 353; Fort Collins, CO 286; Boulder is 23% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,39985th pctl | 1,76868th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Boulder, CO 2,399; Fort Collins, CO 1,768; Boulder is 36% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Safe | About the same |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Dry | Dry | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Poor | Poor | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Workable | Workable | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Colorado, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Colorado →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 24 mi29th pctl | 56 mi41st pctl | Nearest large city: Boulder, CO 24 mi; Fort Collins, CO 56 mi; Fort Collins is 2.3 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Good | Great | Target proximity: Boulder, CO A-; Fort Collins, CO A; Fort Collins is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 574 mi80th pctl | 583 mi81st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 713 mi84th pctl | 749 mi86th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Fort Collins, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 106,27489th pctl | 169,70594th pctl | Population: Boulder, CO 106,274; Fort Collins, CO 169,705; Fort Collins is 60% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 3,94786th pctl | 2,96177th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Boulder, CO 3,947; Fort Collins, CO 2,961; Boulder is 33% higher. |
| Median age | 28.86th pctl | 30.68th pctl | Median age: Boulder, CO 28.8; Fort Collins, CO 30.6; Fort Collins is 1.8 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 76.8%97th pctl | 59.9%88th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Boulder, CO 76.8%; Fort Collins, CO 59.9%; Boulder is 16.9 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.215th pctl | 2.327th pctl | Average household size: Boulder, CO 2.2; Fort Collins, CO 2.3; Fort Collins is 5% larger. |
More about Boulder's residents · Fort Collins's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | BoulderBoulder, CO | Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+20 | D+20 |
| 2024 presidential | D +39.0 pts | D +39.0 pts |
Full politics data: Boulder · Fort Collins
Moving between Boulder and Fort Collins
- Median rent: $1,924 in Boulder, $1,661 in Fort Collins
- Median home value: $982,600 in Boulder, $548,400 in Fort Collins
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 239 in Boulder, 164 in Fort Collins
- Median household income: $85,364 in Boulder, $83,598 in Fort Collins
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $221,851 in Boulder, $150,125 in Fort Collins
- Unemployment: 4.1% in Boulder, 3.9% in Fort Collins
- Average commute: 19 min in Boulder, 20 min in Fort Collins
- Violent crime per 100k: 353 in Boulder, 286 in Fort Collins
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More places like Boulder and Fort Collins
- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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