Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Colorado Springs, CO
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories
Colorado Springs
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$79,026
Violent Crime Index
188⚠ High
Population
479,612 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
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.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pros
Rent averages $294/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Homes cost $62k less ($383,000 vs $445,200)
More college-educated — 41.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (715.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $16,038/yr
Property crime (3448.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
62% less violent crime than Colorado Springs
Households earn $16,038 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Colorado Springs
Key Differences at a Glance
Colorado Springs
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Colorado Springs
Median Home Value
$62k less
$383,000 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$16,038
$95,064 vs $79,026/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
62% lower
273.6 vs 715.6 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Colorado Springs, CO | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,000⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $79,026 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 179⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.1% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.3% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the county of E | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.2" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 479,612 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Colorado Springs's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Colorado Springs is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Colorado Springs leads 12 of 23 categories. Colorado Springs wins 12 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Colorado Springs to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($79,026 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Colorado Springs, CO and Thornton, CO are about 73 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.