Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories
Anaheim
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($445,200 vs $713,600)
54% less violent crime than Anaheim
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $200/mo less ($1,758 vs $1,958)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Households earn $6,526 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$6,526
$95,064 vs $88,538/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
54% lower
273.6 vs 596.2 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$268k less
$445,200 vs $713,600
Thornton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories. Anaheim wins 8 and Thornton wins 15. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Anaheim to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $445,200 median home), income ($88,538 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and Thornton, CO are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.