Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chula Vista, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Chula Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,984 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
276,103 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chula Vista, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 91°F
Households earn $6,920 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $647,100
Higher rents — median is $2,035/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (8.8% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $202k less ($445,200 vs $647,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.6%)
27% less violent crime than Chula Vista
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,035)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Chula Vista
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 Chula Vista by $6,920/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chula Vista
Median Income
$6,920
$101,984 vs $95,064/yr
Thornton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
27% lower
273.6 vs 375.8 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$202k less
$445,200 vs $647,100
Thornton
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.8% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 74.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chula Vista, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $647,100⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,035⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,984 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.3% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chula Vista Elementary | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 276,103 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chula Vista's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Chula Vista wins 11 and Thornton wins 12. 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 Chula Vista to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($647,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($101,984 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chula Vista, CA and Thornton, CO are about 839 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.