The Fort Collins metro is home to 363,561 people (up 7.5% over five years), with a median household income of $91,364. Typical rent of $1,973/month works out to 25.9% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Fort Collins's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.8% |
| Professional & management | 14.8% |
| Retail trade | 10.4% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 10.0% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 25.9% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Fort Collins market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,973/month suggests a household income around $79,000/year. The metro's median household income is $91,364.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.8%), Professional & management (14.8%), Retail trade (10.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).