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Fort Collins

#1 in Best Places to Live in Larimer County
  • A
    Overall Grade
  • City in Colorado
  • 760 reviews
A
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Public Schools
    A
  2. Crime & Safety
    C+
  3. Housing
    B-
  4. Nightlife
    A
  5. Good for Families
    A
  6. Diversity
    B+
  7. Jobs
    B
  8. Weather
    B+
  9. Cost of Living
    C-
  10. Health & Fitness
    A
  11. Outdoor Activities
    A
  12. Commute
    A
View Full Report Card
Fort Collins is a city in Colorado with a population of 159,150. Fort Collins is in Larimer County and is one of the best places to live in Colorado. Living in Fort Collins offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Fort Collins there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Fort Collins and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Fort Collins are highly rated.
About Fort Collins...
Population
159,150

Real Estate

Median Home Value
$308,800
National
$184,700
Median Rent
$1,191
National
$949
Area Feel
Suburban
Rent vs. Own
  • Rent
    46%
  • Own
    54%
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Fort Collins Rankings

Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

Crime & Safety

Crime & Safety
C+
Based on violent and property crime rates.
Violent Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Assault
    164.6
    282.7
  • Murder
    3.6
    6.1
  • Rape
    26.8
    40.7
  • Robbery
    25.1
    135.5
Property Crimes
  • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
National
  • Burglary
    272.6
    500.1
  • Theft
    2,139.2
    2,042.8
  • Motor Vehicle Theft
    123.5
    284
Home Security Options for Fort Collins
Learn More
  • 24/7 Whole home protection with no contract
  • CNET Editor’s choice winner 2018

Residents

Diversity
B+
Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
Age
  • <10 years
    11%
  • 10-17 years
    8%
  • 18-24 years
    23%
  • 25-34 years
    17%
  • 35-44 years
    12%
  • 45-54 years
    10%
  • 55-64 years
    9%
  • 65+ years
    10%
Education Levels
National
  • Master's degree or higher
    22%
    12%
  • Bachelor's degree
    32%
    19%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    28%
    29%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    15%
    28%
  • Less than high school diploma
    4%
    13%
  • Public Schools
  • Private Schools
  • Colleges

Working in Fort Collins

Jobs
B
Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
Median Household Income
$60,110
National
$55,322
Search for Jobs in Fort Collins
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Fort Collins Reviews

760 reviews
All Categories
There is so much to do in our college town! Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University and Front Range Community College, providing educational opportunities on many levels. There is an abundance of outdoor recreational possibilities as well, including many neighborhood and regional parks, fishing and rafting on the Poudre River or nearby Thompson River, hiking in Poudre Canyon, or visiting Rocky Mountain National Park just forty-five minutes away. We are also a foodie town, with many restaurants and micro-breweries, as well as home to Budweiser and the Clydesdales. The charm and history of Old Town Fort Collins captures many hearts, especially during the winter holidays light display. We have been proud to call Fort Collins home for the past fifteen years!
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Active, adorable town. CSU is located here which contributes to many jobs and they have many academic programs. Shopping is great all over town, not to mention great restaurants on just about every corner! It is nestled next to the foothills so there is lots of mountain access for boating, hiking, mountain biking, riding horses, and many other things. There are family friendly activities offered through the city on a regular basis. Healthcare is top of the line and Poudre Valley Hospital a magnet rated hospital also a part of UChealth is amazing and will take care of all your medical needs! There is something for everyone in this friendly town!
I love the what Fort Collins has to offer as far as the restaurants, breweries, bars, and locally owned shops throughout the city. The traffic and cost of living is a bit rough but it is an overall safe community that values their health and their pets. There are plenty of places to hike and trails to walk throughout the city as well as being only about a 30 minutes drive to more secluded mountains and other fun sights and locations to explore. Northern Colorado has a wide variety of local craft breweries and some are even dog friendly! Definitely plan on staying in the area for as long as I am able to do so.