Economic Rankings

How does Larimer County measure up?

** Lower bars indicate better performance

The 2007 Forbes Ranking of Best Places for Business and Careers rated Fort Collins 28^th out 200 metro areas across the nation. Other Colorado cities on the list were Boulder (145^th), Colorado Springs (75^th), and Denver (104^th). Components used in the ranking, along with those listed in the chart, include Income Growth and Net Migration.
2002 State New Economy Index: Colorado (Progressive Policy Institute) - Colorado ranked 4th in the nation overall in knowledge jobs, globalization, economic dynamism, digital economy and innovation capacity (for definitions see link).
- Within these five categories, Colorado ranked in the national top 5 in IT jobs (1), initial public offerings (4), high-tech jobs (2), patents issued (4) and venture capital (3).
In June 2007, the United States Department of Labor ranked Colorado 13^th in the nation for its unemployment rate. The rate was 3.5%. At that time, Larimer County had an unemployment rate of 3.3% (See the Unemployment Page on Compass). The United States Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract ranked Colorado 12^th for its average annual pay of $40,276 in 2004.