Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High
Population
121,385
Thornton
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°F
Households earn $9,652 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $835k less ($445,200 vs $1,280,300)
57% less violent crime than Berkeley
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,067)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Berkeley by $9,652/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$9,652
$104,716 vs $95,064/yr
Thornton
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
57% lower
273.6 vs 638.8 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$835k less
$445,200 vs $1,280,300
Thornton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories. Berkeley wins 9 and Thornton wins 14. 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 Berkeley to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $445,200 median home), income ($104,716 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Thornton, CO are about 943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.