Fort Collins Apartments and Rentals

At once a large city, quaint college town and an outdoor enthusiast's oasis, Fort Collins has been called the best place in the country to live. Those looking for Fort Collins apartments for rent will enjoy a small town feel with the amenities and resources of a large city. Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and just east of the Roosevelt National Forest, Fort Collins is also the home of Colorado State University and has become a mecca of culture, shopping and nature exploration.

The 146,762 residents of Fort Collins enjoy an "adventure casual" lifestyle, easily transitioning from a hike through the buttes of the Rockies to a beer tasting at a local brewery.

The city dates back to the old battles between cowboys and Indians in the Wild West - it was founded as a military outpost during the Indian wars of the mid-1860s to protect the Overland mail route that had recently been established. Although no longer a military base, the city retains its name and much of its architecture from this time period, making a charming historic downtown area.

In 2006, the city was ranked Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine, thanks to its great schools, low crime rate and the plethora of fantastic outdoor recreational opportunities. The city has also been named one of the best places to retire in, bike through and drink beer in, further proving its appeal to people of all backgrounds and interests.

Work and study are intricately linked in Fort Collins. Aside from Colorado State's opportunities for degrees in a wide range of subjects at the bachelor's and master's levels, the university has been rated as one of the best in the nation for its colleges of business and veterinary medicine. The city's impressive Poudre School District is the second largest employer, and students consistently perform between 3-19 percent higher than students statewide in all subjects. More than 70 percent of high school grads in Fort Collins go on to enroll in college.

Because Colorado State provides student housing throughout the year, those looking for Fort Collins rentals will not have too much student competition. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent for apartments in Fort Collins was $900 in 2010. The median family income is $77,700, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The presence of Colorado State University gives this city a young, energetic vibe that has cultivated a thriving local music circuit and an ideal atmosphere for microbreweries. The annual Colorado Brewer's Festival showcases the best of the best of these beers each June, but most breweries are open for tours year-round.

The university also provides the city with a world-class performing arts center that hosts traveling Broadway shows, professional acting troupes and local community theater performances. The city deserves its title as the cultural capital of Northern Colorado - between its theater, symphony orchestra, choirs, galleries and museums, those who love the arts will have a hard time feeling deprived of culture in this city.

Of course, its location near the Rockies makes outdoor recreation perhaps this city's biggest claim to fame. From fishing, swimming and biking to whitewater rafting, hiking and horseback riding, Fort Collins' 600 acres of parks, 40,000 acres of natural areas, 20 miles of off-street hiking and biking trails plus several other community recreational areas offer literally endless adventures for the outdoor enthusiast. It's no wonder the city has been rated one of America's fittest!

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