Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75
Population
123,066
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
Households earn $10,950 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $108k less ($445,200 vs $553,000)
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Arvada by $10,950/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$10,950
$106,014 vs $95,064/yr
Arvada
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Thornton
Violent Crime
4% lower
273.6 vs 285.6 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$108k less
$445,200 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Thornton wins 8. 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 Arvada to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Thornton, CO are about 13 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.