Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Denton leads 16 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($296,100 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,758)
25% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $23,143/yr
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $23,143 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Violent Crime
25% lower
204.2 vs 273.6 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$149k less
$296,100 vs $445,200
Denton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Income
$23,143
$95,064 vs $71,921/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Denton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 16 of 23 categories. Denton wins 16 and Thornton wins 7. 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 Denton to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($71,921 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Thornton, CO are about 633 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.