Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Fort Collins, CO

    Is Fort Collins a good place to live?

    Watch Fort Collins

    Fort Collins ranks #27 of 34 Colorado cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (36/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population grew 0.6% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $548,400
    +10.3% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,661
    per month
    Household income
    $83,598
    median
    Unemployment
    5.2%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Fort Collins

    The median home value in Fort Collins is $548,400 and median rent is $1,661 a month, against a median household income of $83,598. Homes cost about 6.6× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Fort Collins crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Colorado the 2025 rate was 438 violent and 2,235 property crimes per 100,000 people — #2 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Fort Collins, CO

    Fort Collins has about 169,705 residents, 5.2% unemployment and 34% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Fort Collins with

    Fort Collins vs DenverFort Collins vs Colorado SpringsFort Collins vs AuroraFort Collins vs LakewoodFort Collins vs ThorntonFort Collins vs ArvadaFort Collins vs WestminsterFort Collins vs Pueblo

    More: Where to move in Colorado · Best counties in Colorado

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report