Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chandler, AZ
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Chandler leads 20 of 23 categories
Chandler
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,374 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
275,618 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chandler, AZ
Pros
51% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (133.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 46.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Thornton, CO
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.8%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chandler
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Chandler
Median Income
$4,310
$99,374 vs $95,064/yr
Chandler
Violent Crime
51% lower
133.4 vs 273.6 per 100k
Chandler
Median Home Value
$21k less
$423,900 vs $445,200
Chandler
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.6% unemployment
Chandler
Summer Heat
14.8°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chandler, AZ | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $423,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,675⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $99,374 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 50 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.2% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chandler Unified District #80 (4242) | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.7" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 275,618 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chandler's cost of living index is 101.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Chandler is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chandler leads 20 of 23 categories. Chandler wins 20 and Thornton wins 3. 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 Chandler to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($423,900 vs $445,200 median home), income ($99,374 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chandler, AZ and Thornton, CO are about 597 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.