Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Lakewood compared to Fort Collins? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Lakewood | Metric | Fort Collins | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | Cost of Living Index | 111 | +1.8% |
| $475,000 | Median Home Price | $500,000 | +5.3% |
| $1,650 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,500 | -9.1% |
| $72,500 | Median Household Income | $78,600 | +8.4% |
| 0.6% | Property Tax Rate | 0.5% | -8.3% |
| 3.5% | Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | -20.0% |
| 25 min | Average Commute | 22 min | -12.0% |
| 38.8 | Median Age | 30.8 | -20.6% |
| 160,000 | Metro Population | 365,000 | +128.1% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Lakewood costs $2,778/month (PITI) compared to $2,903/month in Fort Collins — a difference of $125/month or $1,500/year. The price-to-income ratio is 6.6x in Lakewood versus 6.4x in Fort Collins, suggesting Fort Collins is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 8.7 years to save a down payment in Lakewood compared to 8.5 years in Fort Collins.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Lakewood | Fort Collins |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $72,500 | $78,600 |
| State Income Tax | $2,530 | $2,798 |
| Federal Income Tax | $7,399 | $8,741 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $5,546 | $6,013 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,850/yr | $2,750/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| Total Tax Burden | $15,475 (21.3%) | $17,552 (22.3%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $57,025 | $61,048 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $15,475 in Lakewood (21.3% effective) versus $17,552 in Fort Collins (22.3% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $57,025 in Lakewood and $61,048 in Fort Collins. Property taxes add $2,850/year on the median Lakewood home versus $2,750/year in Fort Collins.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $72,500 in Lakewood (COL 109) and relocate to Fort Collins (COL 111), you would need $73,830 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $1,330 to maintain the same standard of living in Fort Collins.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Lakewood is 25 minutes versus 22 minutes in Fort Collins, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Fort Collins's lower unemployment rate of 2.8% versus 3.5% suggests a stronger job market. Lakewood skews slightly older with a median age of 38.8 vs 30.8 in Fort Collins.
Lakewood and Fort Collins have very similar costs of living, with COL indices of 109 and 111 respectively (national average = 100). Day-to-day expenses, housing, and taxes are comparable between the two metro areas.
The median home price in Fort Collins is $500,000, which is $25,000 more than Lakewood's median of $475,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,500/month in Fort Collins vs $1,650/month in Lakewood, a difference of $150/month or $1,800/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $72,500 salary in Lakewood is equivalent to $73,830 in Fort Collins. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Lakewood's COL index of 109 vs Fort Collins's 111. Conversely, $78,600 in Fort Collins equals $77,184 in Lakewood.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $15,475 (21.3% effective rate) in Lakewood vs $17,552 (22.3% effective rate) in Fort Collins. Property taxes on the median home are $2,850/year in Lakewood (0.6% rate) vs $2,750/year in Fort Collins (0.5% rate). Sales tax rates are 2.9% in Colorado and 2.9% in Colorado.
Lakewood median household income: $72,500/yr. Fort Collins median household income: $78,600/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,650 in Lakewood vs $1,500 in Fort Collins. Annualized that is $19,800 vs $18,000.
Lakewood offers a lower cost of living (index 109 vs 111), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Fort Collins typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Lakewood and Fort Collins numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Lakewood vs Fort Collins cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .