Fort Collins, CO vs Olympia, WA: where should you move?
Fort Collins: College town at the foothills; priced accordingly. Olympia: Capital-town Puget Sound at a discount.
Dimension
Fort Collins
Olympia
Median home price
$558K
$534K
Effective property tax
0.55%
0.87%
Tax friendliness
6/10
9/10
Winter mildness
4/10
4/10
Summer comfort
8/10
10/10
Walkability
5/10
5/10
Outdoor access
9/10
8/10
Culture & food
6/10
5/10
Healthcare
9/10
5/10
Airport connectivity
10/10
9/10
Schools
8/10
7/10
Safety
7/10
7/10
Hazard safety (10 = lowest risk)
8/10
5/10
Growth trajectory
8/10
7/10
Pick Fort Collins if your priorities lean: Effective property tax, Outdoor access, Culture & food, Healthcare. Pick Olympia if they lean: Median home price, Tax friendliness, Summer comfort. There is no universal winner — only a winner for your weights.