Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Beaverton leads 12 of 22 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $95/mo less ($1,663 vs $1,758)
Cons
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Median income trails Thornton by $6,165/yr
Thornton, CO
Pros
25% less violent crime than Beaverton
Homes cost $50k less ($445,200 vs $494,700)
Households earn $6,165 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$6,165
$95,064 vs $88,899/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
25% lower
273.6 vs 364.8 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$50k less
$445,200 vs $494,700
Thornton
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Beaverton leads 12 of 22 categories. Beaverton wins 12 and Thornton wins 10. 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 Beaverton to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($88,899 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Thornton, CO are about 983 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.