CityCompare

Fort Collins CO vs West Palm Beach FL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Collins, CO

Colorado · Population: 169,705

  • Median HH Income$83,598
  • Median Home Price$568,389
  • Unemployment5.2%
  • Bachelor's+59.9%

West Palm Beach, FL

Florida · Population: 119,508

  • Median HH Income$69,261
  • Median Home Price$399,650
  • Unemployment5.4%
  • Bachelor's+37.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fort Collins
169,705
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
119,508
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Collins
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A
Median Age
Fort Collins
30.6
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
40.2
Foreign Born
Fort Collins
6.6%
West Palm Beach
27.2%
West Palm Beach +
White
Fort Collins
81.7%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
44.0%
Black
Fort Collins
1.4%
West Palm Beach
31.5%
West Palm Beach +
Asian
Fort Collins
3.4%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
2.5%
Hispanic
Fort Collins
12.3%
West Palm Beach
24.6%
West Palm Beach +
Spanish at Home
Fort Collins
N/A
West Palm Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fort Collins
$83,598
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
$69,261
Per Capita Income
Fort Collins
$46,341
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
$44,508
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Collins
$76,653
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
$65,328
Unemployment Rate
Fort Collins
5.2%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
5.4%
Poverty Rate
Fort Collins
16.0%
West Palm Beach
14.8%
West Palm Beach +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Collins
59.9%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
37.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Collins
$568,389
West Palm Beach
$399,650
West Palm Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Fort Collins
52.1%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
50.2%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Collins
512
West Palm Beach
324
West Palm Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Collins
3234
West Palm Beach
1453
West Palm Beach +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Collins
23.8%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
29.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Collins
6.2%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
13.7%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Collins
18.7%
West Palm Beach
16.4%
West Palm Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Collins
9.4%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
16.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Collins
20.3%
West Palm Beach
13.3%
West Palm Beach +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Collins
9.9%
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
13.0%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Collins
50.3°F
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
75.4°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Collins
16.1 in
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
62.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Collins
6.2 µg/m³
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
7.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Collins
75.0%
West Palm Beach
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Collins
21.8 min
Fort Collins +
West Palm Beach
25.0 min

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Collins leads in median household income at $83,598, while west Palm Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $399,650. On public safety, West Palm Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 512 in Fort Collins. Fort Collins has a lower unemployment rate at 5.2%, and Fort Collins has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 6.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Collins scores better with a lower obesity rate of 23.8%.

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About Fort Collins & West Palm Beach

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