Fort Collins, CO vs Irvine, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Fort Collins
69.4
#1216 nationally
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $74,126). Fort Collins leads in cost of living index (114 vs 178). Irvine leads in school rating (9.5 vs 7.6).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1216) | 67.2 (#1452) |
| Population | 174,851 | 307,670 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $565,732 | $1,517,431 |
| Median Household Income | $74,126 | $116,519 |
| Average Commute | 20.8 min | 25.8 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | 44 |
| Crime Level | Moderate-Low | Very Low |
| School Rating | 7.6 | 9.5 |
| Cost of Living Index | 114 | 178 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+17.6 | D+2.6 |
D+
69.4 Score
Fort Collins, CO
College town with craft beer culture
Median Home
$565,732
Population
174,851
Crime
Moderate-Low
Schools
B+
West
View Fort Collins, CO →
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →
Try a different matchup
Swap Fort Collins for: