Things to know before moving from West Virginia to Fort Collins, CO

Cost of living: West Virginia vs Fort Collins, CO

West Virginia Fort Collins
Average rent cost $899 $1,750
Average home value $168,172 $543,093
Average income (per capita) $55,217 $64,728
Unemployment rate 4% 6%
State income tax 7% 5%
  • Rent is about 95% more expensive in Fort Collins than in West Virginia.
  • Home prices are about 223% higher in Fort Collins than in West Virginia.
  • The average income is about 17% higher in Fort Collins than in West Virginia.
  • Fort Collins has a higher unemployment rate than West Virginia by about 33%.
  • Income taxes are 16% lower in Fort Collins than in West Virginia.

How life is different in Fort Collins from West Virginia

Fort Collins West Virginia
Population 169,810 1,782,959
Political leaning Democratic 56-41 Republican 69-30
Summer high 87ºF 83ºF
Winter low 15ºF 21ºF
Annual rain 16" 45"
Annual snow 48" 33"
Crime index 17.0 17.47
  • The population of Fort Collins is approximately 90% lower than the population of West Virginia.
  • In the last presidential election, Fort Collins voted Democratic and West Virginia voted Republican.
  • The average high in the summertime in Fort Collins is 87ºF and in West Virginia, it’s 83ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Fort Collins reaches the temperature of 15ºF and West Virginia gets down to 21ºF.
  • You can expect about 16 inches of annual rainfall in Fort Collins vs 45 inches of rainfall in West Virginia.
  • In Fort Collins, it snows about 48 inches annually vs 33 inches of snow in West Virginia.
  • Fort Collins has a lower crime rate than West Virginia with a crime index of 17.47 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 Collinstoggle

  • Totally 80's Pizza & Museum
  • Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
  • Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures
  • Museum of Art Fort Collins
  • Center for Fine Art Photography

Parks in Fort Collinstoggle

  • Cache La Poudre River
  • Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
  • Annual Flower Trial Garden
  • Spring Canyon Community Park
  • Gardens on Spring Creek
  • Coyote Ridge Natural Area

Sports Teams in Fort Collinstoggle

  • Colorado State Rams (Mountain West)

Universities in Fort Collinstoggle

  • Colorado State University Fort Collins
  • Institute of Business and Medical Careers
  • College America 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 West Virginia to Fort Collins take?

The time frame for a move from West Virginia 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia to Fort Collins?

Because of the 1497-mile move, it’s best to book your move from West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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.

Helpful moving resources