Fort Collins, CO vs Windsor, CO
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | WindsorWindsor, CO | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Good | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Safe | Very Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Good | Great | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | Exposed | Exposed | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
With a poverty rate of 16.0%, Fort Collins, CO records 11.2 points more than Windsor, CO, whose figure is 4.8%; the 2023 Census figures also put Fort Collins in the 70th percentile for that measure against the 12th percentile for Windsor. Violent crime per 100,000 people shows 286 in Fort Collins versus 36 in Windsor, a difference described as 7.9× higher, while property crime per 100,000 people stands at 1,768 and 432 respectively, or 4.1× higher on the Fort Collins side. Median age separates the two by 9.7 years, at 30.6 in Fort Collins and 40.3 in Windsor.
Job growth over the past year was +0.3% in Fort Collins and +2.3% in Windsor, a gap of 2.0 pts. Commutes average 20 min in Fort Collins and 26.6 min in Windsor, 7 min longer, and traffic deaths per 100,000 people run 9 in Fort Collins against 22 in Windsor, which is 2.4× higher. On the cost side, the cost of living index reads 164 and 172, median rent $1,661 and $1,780, and median household income $83,598 and $121,758, the latter 46% higher in Windsor.
Housing affordability is graded D and B-, while crime & safety is graded B- and A+. Healthcare access scores 92/100 and 71/100, a 21 pts difference, and tap water is graded F and B. Population totals 169,705 and 35,918, with density of 2,961 and 1,366 per sq mi.
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 | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 16483rd pctl | 17285th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $548,40085th pctl | $562,30085th pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,66178th pctl | $1,78084th pctl | Median rent: Fort Collins, CO $1,661; Windsor, CO $1,780; Windsor is 7% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $83,59863rd pctl | $121,75889th pctl | Median household income: Fort Collins, CO $83,598; Windsor, CO $121,758; Windsor is 46% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $102,12686th pctl | $109,24588th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Fort Collins, CO $102,126; Windsor, CO $109,245; Windsor is 7% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $150,12586th pctl | $160,59088th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Fort Collins, CO $150,125; Windsor, CO $160,590; Windsor is 7% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Fort Collins, CO D; Windsor, CO B-; Windsor is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Windsor needs about
$78,700
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 164 vs 172). 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 | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.9%62nd pctl | 4.4%80th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +0.3%29th pctl | +2.3%82nd pctl | Job growth (YoY): Fort Collins, CO +0.3%; Windsor, CO +2.3%; Windsor is 2.0 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $46,34171st pctl | $55,69183rd pctl | Per-capita income: Fort Collins, CO $46,341; Windsor, CO $55,691; Windsor is 20% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 16.0%70th pctl | 4.8%12th pctl | Poverty rate: Fort Collins, CO 16.0%; Windsor, CO 4.8%; Fort Collins is 11.2 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 20 min27th pctl | 26.6 min71st pctl | Average commute: Fort Collins, CO 20 min; Windsor, CO 26.6 min; Windsor is 7 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 20.2%84th pctl | 19.2%81st pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 28660th pctl | 366th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Fort Collins, CO 286; Windsor, CO 36; Fort Collins is 7.9 times higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 1,76868th pctl | 4328th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Fort Collins, CO 1,768; Windsor, CO 432; Fort Collins is 4.1 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Falling | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Safe | Very Safe | Crime & safety: Fort Collins, CO B-; Windsor, CO A+; Windsor is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Fort Collins, CO A+; Windsor, CO C+; Fort Collins is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, 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. | StrongCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Healthcare access: Fort Collins, CO A+; Windsor, CO B+; Fort Collins is graded higher. |
| Tap water | Poor | Clean | Tap water: Fort Collins, CO F; Windsor, CO B; Windsor is graded higher. |
| 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 | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 56 mi41st pctl | 51 mi40th pctl | Nearest large city: Fort Collins, CO 56 mi; Windsor, CO 51 mi; Fort Collins is 11% higher. |
| Target proximity | Great | Good | About the same |
| To borderDistance to international border | 583 mi81st pctl | 589 mi81st pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 749 mi86th pctl | 747 mi86th pctl | About the same |
| StrategicStrategic location | Exposed | Exposed | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Windsor, CO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,70594th pctl | 35,91864th pctl | Population: Fort Collins, CO 169,705; Windsor, CO 35,918; Fort Collins is 4.7 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 2,96177th pctl | 1,36641st pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Fort Collins, CO 2,961; Windsor, CO 1,366; Fort Collins is 2.2 times higher. |
| Median age | 30.68th pctl | 40.367th pctl | Median age: Fort Collins, CO 30.6; Windsor, CO 40.3; Windsor is 9.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.9%88th pctl | 52.2%82nd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Fort Collins, CO 59.9%; Windsor, CO 52.2%; Fort Collins is 7.7 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.327th pctl | 2.663rd pctl | Average household size: Fort Collins, CO 2.3; Windsor, CO 2.6; Windsor is 12% larger. |
More about Fort Collins's residents · Windsor'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 | Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO | WindsorWindsor, CO |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+20 | R+9 |
| 2024 presidential | D +39.0 pts | R +18.0 pts |
Full politics data: Fort Collins · Windsor
Moving between Fort Collins and Windsor
- Median rent: $1,661 in Fort Collins, $1,780 in Windsor
- Median home value: $548,400 in Fort Collins, $562,300 in Windsor
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 164 in Fort Collins, 172 in Windsor
- Median household income: $83,598 in Fort Collins, $121,758 in Windsor
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $150,125 in Fort Collins, $160,590 in Windsor
- Unemployment: 3.9% in Fort Collins, 4.4% in Windsor
- Average commute: 20 min in Fort Collins, 26.6 min in Windsor
- Violent crime per 100k: 286 in Fort Collins, 36 in Windsor
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More places like Fort Collins and Windsor
- 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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