City Guide
Craft beer and foothills meet in Fort Collins.
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You’re seeing Total Monthly Leasing Prices, which include base rent and mandatory monthly costs. Explore each listing for a detailed breakdown.
The Hewing
1742 Heritage Circle, Fort Collins, CO 8052612 month lease from$1,383
Base rent from $1,334
The Granary
156 W. Fairway Lane, Fort Collins, CO 8052512 month lease from$1,642
Base rent from $1,545
Habitat at Fort Collins
2736 Raintree Drive, Fort Collins, CO 8052614 month lease from$1,443
Base rent from $1,373
The Hewing
1742 Heritage Circle, Fort Collins, CO 8052612 month lease from$1,383
Base rent from $1,334
Bloom Rental Living
180 N. Aria Way Unit 101, Fort Collins, CO 8052412 month lease from$2,273
Base rent from $2,150
Courtney Park
4470 S LeMay Ave, Fort Collins, CO 8052512 month lease from$1,405
Base rent from $1,363
Fort Collins and Loveland sit side by side along Colorado's northern Front Range, connected by US 287 and roughly 13 miles apart. Fort Collins centers on a brick Old Town core built up around Colorado State University, while Loveland keeps a smaller downtown known for its citywide public art collection and lake-dotted parks. Together the two cities combine research, manufacturing, craft brewing and quick access to foothills trails and high plains reservoirs.
Fort Collins and Loveland each built a distinct arts identity, and both show up across the metro. The Fort Collins Museum of Discovery covers regional history and hands-on science exhibits, and the Lincoln Center programs concerts, theater and touring shows year-round. Loveland's citywide public art collection includes more than 580 works, anchored by the Loveland Museum and the annual Sculpture in the Park show each August.
Fort Collins built its national reputation on craft beer, and Loveland adds its own performance venues to the mix. New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing both operate original Fort Collins taprooms within a few blocks of Old Town Square. Loveland's Rialto Theater Center, restored inside a 1920s movie house, hosts live music, film and community theater downtown.
Trails and water define weekends in both cities. Horsetooth Reservoir sits in the foothills west of Fort Collins with boating, fishing and cliffside trail access, and the Poudre River corridor threads paved paths through town. Loveland's Benson Sculpture Garden pairs outdoor art with a small lake and a paved loop path, and nearby Boyd Lake State Park adds swimming and boating minutes from downtown.
Transportation and accessibility
On the move
Public transport
Transfort operates Fort Collins's local bus network at no fare to riders, and the regional FLEX route links Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder along a single corridor. Loveland's own COLT system covers local fixed routes within the city and connects directly to FLEX stops for regional travel.
Cars and driving
US 287 runs directly between downtown Fort Collins and downtown Loveland, a drive of about 13 miles in normal traffic. Interstate 25 runs along the eastern edge of both cities, with State Highway 14, Harmony Road and State Highway 402 serving as the main connector routes between the interstate and each downtown. Both cities keep a grid-based street network that keeps most local trips short outside peak commuting hours.
Airports
Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL) sits between the two cities and offers a United-branded ground connection to Denver International Airport plus scheduled flights to Burbank, California. Denver International Airport (DEN) itself is roughly 55 to 60 miles south of both Fort Collins and Loveland by interstate.
Pedestrians and bicycles
The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization coordinates regional bicycle and pedestrian planning across Fort Collins and Loveland, funding shared paths and on-street bike lanes throughout both cities. Fort Collins maintains an extensive paved trail network along the Poudre River, and Loveland's paved trails link city parks and Lake Loveland, giving both cities routes that keep cyclists and pedestrians separated from vehicle traffic.
Industry and job market
Your next job awaits
Fort Collins and Loveland combine federal science facilities, a major public university and a growing manufacturing and technology base. Together the two cities support career paths across research, healthcare, education, retail and hospitality, with Colorado State University and several national employers anchoring the regional job market.
Government
The USGS Fort Collins Science Center conducts wildlife and ecology research from its Fort Collins campus, one of several federal science offices based in the city. Larimer County and both municipal governments add further public-sector employment across the metro.
Healthcare
UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital anchors Fort Collins's healthcare sector with a full-service hospital and emergency department. Banner Health's Medical Center serves Loveland with inpatient care, surgery and emergency services just off US 287.
Technology services
Broadcom operates a large semiconductor campus in Fort Collins, and Woodward designs aerospace and industrial control systems from its Fort Collins headquarters. OtterBox designs and engineers protective device cases from its Fort Collins home base.
Educational services
Colorado State University enrolls more than 34,000 students in Fort Collins, and Poudre School District and Thompson School District employ teachers and staff across Fort Collins and Loveland. Front Range Community College's Larimer Campus adds career and transfer programs in south Fort Collins.
Retail
Foothills anchors Fort Collins retail with more than 30 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues near Colorado State University. The Promenade Shops at Centerra brings a similar mix of national retailers and dining to Loveland's east side.
Leisure and hospitality
Downtown organizations including the Fort Collins Chamber and Downtown Fort Collins coordinate events, dining and retail draws that support hospitality jobs throughout Old Town. Downtown Loveland runs a similar calendar of markets, festivals and public events in Loveland's core.
Education
Education for every age
Fort Collins and Loveland's school systems post strong academic results across multiple state measures. Poudre School District, serving Fort Collins, holds an "Accredited" rating from the Colorado Department of Education and was recognized among the state's top-10 districts for math performance on 2024 CMAS testing. Thompson School District, serving Loveland, also carries an "Accredited" rating under the state's District Performance Framework. For higher education, Colorado State University enrolls more than 34,000 students as a major public research university in Fort Collins, and Front Range Community College's Larimer Campus offers transfer and career-training programs in south Fort Collins.
Things to do
Out and about
Fort Collins and Loveland combine a lively craft-beer and arts scene with direct access to foothills trails, reservoirs and a citywide outdoor sculpture collection. A morning at a downtown museum can lead into an afternoon along the Poudre River corridor, followed by an evening at a taproom that has poured since the 1990s. Loveland threads more than 200 public sculptures through its parks and public spaces, giving both downtowns a distinct creative identity alongside shared outdoor recreation.
Our top picks
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
An interactive science and history museum covering the region's story, with hands-on exhibits, a planetarium and rotating traveling shows for all ages.
The Lincoln Center
Fort Collins's primary performing arts venue programs concerts, theater, dance and touring shows across two auditoriums throughout the year.
Downtown Fort Collins
Old Town Square anchors a compact downtown of local shops, restaurants and public art, with seasonal concerts, art walks and community events.
New Belgium Brewing
An original Fort Collins production brewery with a taproom, guided tours and a rotating lineup of year-round and seasonal beers.
Loveland Museum
An accredited art and history museum, founded in 1937, presenting rotating exhibitions on regional heritage alongside contemporary art.
Benson Sculpture Garden
A public park with more than 150 sculptures set around a small lake and paved loop path, free and open to visitors year-round.
Rialto Theater Center
A restored 1920s movie palace in downtown Loveland hosting live music, film screenings and community theater productions.
The Promenade Shops at Centerra
An open-air shopping and dining center on Loveland's east side featuring national retailers, restaurants and seasonal entertainment.
FAQs about Fort Collins / Loveland, CO
Fort Collins and Loveland both carry a cost of living above the national average, driven mainly by housing. Fort Collins tends to run somewhat higher than Loveland, with rental demand supported by Colorado State University and the city's research and technology employers. Loveland offers a comparatively moderate housing market while sitting within the same regional job center reachable by US 287 and I-25. Utilities, groceries and transportation costs track close to statewide averages in both cities. Checking current listings for the specific area and unit type you're considering remains the most reliable way to budget.
Transfort operates Fort Collins's fare-free local bus network, and the regional FLEX route connects Fort Collins, Loveland, Berthoud, Longmont and Boulder along one corridor. Loveland's COLT system covers local fixed routes and links directly to FLEX stops for regional connections. Fort Collins maintains an extensive paved trail network along the Poudre River, and Loveland's paved trails connect city parks, giving both cities routes that keep cyclists and pedestrians away from vehicle traffic for many everyday errands.
Horsetooth Reservoir sits in the foothills just west of Fort Collins, with boating, fishing and cliffside trail access minutes from downtown. The Poudre River corridor threads paved paths through the city for cycling and paddling. In Loveland, Benson Sculpture Garden pairs public art with a small lake and a paved loop path, and nearby Boyd Lake State Park adds swimming, boating and camping. Both cities maintain extensive local trail and park systems beyond these highlights, with new segments added most years.
Both cities maintain city parks, natural areas and trail systems, along with designated off-leash dog parks that allow pets off leash inside fenced enclosures. Fort Collins operates several fenced dog parks including Spring Canyon and Fossil Creek, while Loveland's Fairgrounds Park includes a similar off-leash area. Leashes are required in all other public parks and trails in both cities. Posted rules cover vaccination, age and other requirements at each off-leash area, so checking current signage or the relevant city website before a visit is recommended.
Fort Collins's Old Town district is anchored by original taprooms including New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing, both within a few blocks of Old Town Square, alongside restaurants, shops and live music. Loveland's downtown centers on the restored Rialto Theater Center, which hosts live music, film and community theater in a renovated 1920s movie house. Both downtown districts host seasonal festivals, markets and public events throughout the year.
Foothills anchors Fort Collins's retail scene near Colorado State University with more than 30 shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. The Promenade Shops at Centerra brings a similar mix of national retailers and dining to Loveland's east side. Both cities' downtown districts add independent shops and services along Old Town Square and Loveland's Main Street corridor. Grocery, healthcare and banking services are distributed across multiple areas in both cities rather than concentrated in one location.
Fort Collins falls within Poudre School District, which carries an "Accredited" rating from the Colorado Department of Education and was recognized among the state's top-10 districts for math performance on 2024 CMAS testing. Loveland falls within Thompson School District, also rated "Accredited" under the state's District Performance Framework. Colorado State University, based in Fort Collins, enrolls more than 34,000 students as one of the region's major public research universities. Both districts publish detailed school-level performance data on their official websites.
Fort Collins hosts a full calendar of programming, including exhibitions at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and concerts and touring shows at the Lincoln Center. Loveland's Sculpture in the Park show each August draws artists from across the country to Benson Sculpture Garden, and the Loveland Museum runs rotating art and history exhibitions year-round. Both cities' official tourism and arts organization websites publish current event calendars.
Fort Collins and Loveland both maintain active chamber-of-commerce organizations, the Fort Collins Chamber and the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, that run business networking events, policy programs and economic-development initiatives. The North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization also coordinates regional transportation planning that supports both cities' business corridors. Coworking spaces and shared office facilities operate independently throughout both downtown districts for those seeking flexible workspace.
Fort Collins and Loveland share a semi-arid, four-season climate with roughly 300 sunny days per year, according to long-term weather data. Winters bring periodic snowfall, Fort Collins averages just over 50 inches annually, but skies typically clear quickly after storms. Spring can be variable, with lingering snow into early season, while summer runs warm and dry with afternoon thunderstorms common along the foothills. Fall tends to be mild with clear skies, a popular season for outdoor activity in both cities.