Fort Collins vs Springfield: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Fort Collins, CO and Springfield, MO, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricFort Collins, COSpringfield, MO
Population168,758168,873
Median household income$78,977$43,450
Median home value$497,400$146,400
Median rent (/mo)$1,576$878

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Fort Collins, CO and Springfield, MO comes down to what you value most. Springfield has the lower median home value, and Springfield has the lower median rent.

Fort Collins has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Fort Collins or Springfield?
By median home value, Springfield is the cheaper of the two ($146,400 vs $497,400). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Fort Collins or Springfield?
Median household income is $78,977 in Fort Collins versus $43,450 in Springfield, per the US Census Bureau.

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