Population 196,953 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Fort Collins
Household size in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.57 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.53 | 2.63 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.46 | 2.64 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.32 | 2.54 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.09 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Fort Collins is a place of small households, averaging 2.32 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.41, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.7 | 36.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 34.1 | 37.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 33.9 | 38.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.7 | 39.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
Fort Collins is young: half of its residents are under 35.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 33.7, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.7% | 10.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.9% | 9.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.2% | 9.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.1 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.2% of households in Fort Collins, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 1.1 points, mirroring the country.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fort Collins
Renters in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9% | 32.4% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 41.4% | 35.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.4% | 34.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.4% | 33.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than four in ten households in Fort Collins rent their homes (44.4%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 36.0% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 4.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only eight of the 133 Colorado cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −3.0 pts | −1.8 pts |
Fewer homes sit empty in Fort Collins than nationally: 6.8%, against 9.6% for the U.S. The picture is much the same across Colorado. Vacancy is down 1.0 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1981 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1987 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1988 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Fort Collins is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the northwest has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $962 | $1,051 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,148 | $1,165 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,390 | $1,450 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,756 | $1,963 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$793 | +$912 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fort Collins costs $1,756 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in Colorado overall ($1,963). Rent has climbed $793 a month since 2006–10, up 82%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 34.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fort Collins
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 49.2% | 36.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.9% | 37.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.1% | 40.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 60.0% | 45.9% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.8 pts | +9.4 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fort Collins is highly educated: about six in ten adults 25 and older (60.0%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 10.8 points, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the center and least in the north.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.0% | 90.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.9% | 91.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.6% | 92.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +3.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Fort Collins: 96.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fort Collins
| Period | Fort Collins | Colorado | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.6% | 6.8% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 7.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.4% | 4.4% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 4.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Fort Collins is close to the national rate: 5.1% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 2.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fort Collins compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins | 2.32 | 35.7 | 7.2% | 44.4% | 6.8% | 1991 | $1,756 | 60.0% | 96.6% | 5.1% |
| Timnath | 2.88 | 38.4 | 6.4% | 16.8% | 8.8% | 2015 | $2,371 | 74.1% | 99.3% | 0.7% |
| Laporte | 2.11 | 52.9 | 4.0% | 18.7% | 6.5% | 1981 | $1,503 | 48.1% | 95.4% | 2.9% |
| Windsor | 2.65 | 40.5 | 7.9% | 23.3% | 4.4% | 2008 | $2,118 | 53.9% | 97.1% | 3.6% |
| Loveland | 2.37 | 42.8 | 8.9% | 33.2% | 3.9% | 1990 | $1,901 | 40.5% | 95.4% | 5.0% |
| Wellington | 2.78 | 36.4 | 8.4% | 16.0% | 5.3% | 2007 | $2,309 | 46.8% | 97.2% | 4.9% |
| Severance | 2.96 | 34.1 | 9.0% | 8.7% | 2.0% | 2014 | $2,357 | 45.7% | 95.4% | 3.3% |
| Cedar Cove | 2.32 | 56.0 | 4.6% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 1985 | $1,606 | 46.9% | 97.3% | 6.0% |
| Bellvue | 2.00 | 56.4 | 1.1% | 8.2% | 30.0% | 1984 | $1,564 | 57.4% | 98.1% | 3.6% |
| Masonville | 2.47 | 53.3 | 2.2% | 7.4% | 26.8% | 1991 | $1,615 | 45.7% | 99.9% | 9.9% |
| Olympus Heights | 2.47 | 53.2 | 6.5% | 7.2% | 29.6% | 1986 | $1,716 | 43.2% | 100.0% | 9.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Topeka, KS · Utica, NY · Traverse City, MI · Tulare, CA · Ventura, CA · Tracy, CA · Troy, MI · Tulsa, OK · Vacaville, CA · Tyler, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fort Collins. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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