Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaumont, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Beaumont
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$53,745
Violent Crime Index
299⚠ High
Population
114,573
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
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.
Beaumont, TX
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($150,400 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $766/mo less ($992 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $41,319/yr
Violent crime (1137.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3302.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $41,319 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Beaumont
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Beaumont
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaumont
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Beaumont
Median Home Value
$295k less
$150,400 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$41,319
$95,064 vs $53,745/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
76% lower
273.6 vs 1137.3 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaumont, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,400 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $992 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $53,745 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 3.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 242⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 299⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.8% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.2% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BEAUMONT ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,573 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaumont's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Beaumont is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Beaumont wins 10 and Thornton wins 13. 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 Beaumont to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($53,745 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaumont, TX and Thornton, CO are about 912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.