Colorado Springs vs Fort Collins
Compare Colorado Springs, CO and Fort Collins, CO on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,508/mo in Colorado Springs and $1,584/mo in Fort Collins, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,734/mo and $1,646/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (246 vs 249 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 86°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Colorado Springs; if walkable daily life matters more, Fort Collins screens stronger on the walkability proxy (12 vs 9). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Fort Collins leads 65 to 53 on the daily life screen.
Colorado Springs leads 59 to 51 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Colorado Springs is roughly $85,000 in Fort Collins using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Fort Collins | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,508/mo | $1,584/mo | Colorado Springs |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,734/mo | $1,646/mo | Fort Collins |
| Median home value | $391,000 | $488,000 | Colorado Springs |
| State income tax | 4.4% | 4.4% | Tie |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.3 min | Fort Collins |
| Safety score | 34/100 | 38/100 | Fort Collins |
| School score | 8/10 | 8/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 9/100 | 12/100 | Fort Collins |
| Outdoor score | 9/10 | 10/10 | Fort Collins |
| Restaurants per 100k | 175.6 | 208.4 | Fort Collins |
| Mountain distance | 8 mi | 14 mi | Colorado Springs |
| Coast distance | 704 mi | 787 mi | Colorado Springs |
What stands out
Colorado Springs stronger signals
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 4 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 13 miles
Colorado Springs tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Cold winters
Fort Collins stronger signals
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Strong outdoor access
- Trail access within 13 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Fort Collins tradeoffs
- Premium housing market
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Colorado Springs cheaper than Fort Collins?
On public benchmarks Colorado Springs is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,508/mo in Colorado Springs vs $1,584/mo in Fort Collins; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,734/mo vs $1,646/mo; state income tax is 4.4% vs 4.4%.
Is Colorado Springs or Fort Collins safer?
Fort Collins screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 34/100 for Colorado Springs and 38/100 for Fort Collins (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Colorado Springs or Fort Collins?
School screens show 8/10 for Colorado Springs vs 8/10 for Fort Collins, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Colorado Springs and Fort Collins?
Colorado Springs: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 14°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Fort Collins: 86°F / 12°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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