Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Thornton
Colorado
13
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $26,475 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $552k less ($445,200 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $870/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,628)
37% less violent crime than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $26,475/yr
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.3%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$26,475
$121,539 vs $95,064/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
37% lower
273.6 vs 436.7 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$552k less
$445,200 vs $997,600
Thornton
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge 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 Cambridge to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $445,200 median home), income ($121,539 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Thornton, CO are about 1,756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.