Things to know before moving from South Dakota to Fort Collins, CO
Cost of living: South Dakota vs Fort Collins, CO
South Dakota | Fort Collins | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $878 | $1,750 |
Average home value | $306,944 | $543,093 |
Average income (per capita) | $69,457 | $64,728 |
Unemployment rate | 2% | 6% |
State income tax | 0% | 5% |
Fort Collins sources: Zumper, Zillow, Numbeo
- Rent is about 99% more expensive in Fort Collins than in South Dakota.
- Home prices are about 77% higher in Fort Collins than in South Dakota.
- The average income is about 7% lower in Fort Collins than in South Dakota.
- Fort Collins has a higher unemployment rate than South Dakota by about 195%.
- Income taxes are 5% higher in Fort Collins than in South Dakota.
How life is different in Fort Collins from South Dakota
Fort Collins | South Dakota | |
---|---|---|
Population | 169,810 | 919,318 |
Political leaning | Democratic 56-41 | Republican 63-37 |
Summer high | 87ºF | 85ºF |
Winter low | 15ºF | 7ºF |
Annual rain | 16" | 23" |
Annual snow | 48" | 39" |
Crime index | 17.0 | 21.14 |
Fort Collins sources: Wikipedia, AllTransit, Walk Score, NeighborhoodScout, AirNow
- The population of Fort Collins is approximately 82% lower than the population of South Dakota.
- In the last presidential election, Fort Collins voted Democratic and South Dakota voted Republican.
- The average high in the summertime in Fort Collins is 87ºF and in South Dakota, it’s 85ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Fort Collins reaches the temperature of 15ºF and South Dakota gets down to 7ºF.
- You can expect about 16 inches of annual rainfall in Fort Collins vs 23 inches of rainfall in South Dakota.
- In Fort Collins, it snows about 48 inches annually vs 39 inches of snow in South Dakota.
- Fort Collins has a lower crime rate than South Dakota with a crime index of 21.14 vs 17.0.
Things to do in Fort Collins
Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Fort Collins.
Museums in Fort Collins
Parks in Fort Collins
Sports Teams in Fort Collins
Universities in Fort Collins
Other considerations when moving to Fort Collins, CO
- Weather: August, June and September are the best months to move in Fort Collins, while December and January are the least comfortable months. Summers in Fort Collins can be mild to hot. Winters can be relatively tolerable as well.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (COPUC) regulates local and intrastate moving service providers in Colorado. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Colorado moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Colorado does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Colorado. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Choose Released Value Protection for its cost-free advantage, provided by movers with minimal coverage. Under this option, the mover's responsibility is capped at 60 cents per pound per article. For instance, if your mover lost or damaged a valuable item, you would only receive compensation based on this limited valuation. If you seek comprehensive coverage for your items' full value, discuss alternative options with the moving company you're hiring or explore third-party insurance providers.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
FAQ
How long does a move from South Dakota to Fort Collins take?
The time frame for a move from South Dakota to Fort Collins, CO, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.
Obviously, the further upstate you are in South Dakota, the longer the drive time to Fort Collins will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.
With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to Fort Collins from South Dakota can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.
How far in advance should I book movers when moving from South Dakota to Fort Collins?
Because of the 460-mile move, it’s best to book your move from South Dakota to Fort Collins as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.
What time of year is the cheapest to move to Fort Collins, CO?
With the summer highs of 87ºF and the winter lows of 15ºF, most people move to Fort Collins from South Dakota during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to Fort Collins during summer or winter.