Head-to-Head · City Comparison
East Los Angeles, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories
East Los Angeles
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,119
Violent Crime Index
147⚠ High
Population
117,222
Thornton
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
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.
East Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Rent averages $389/mo less ($1,369 vs $1,758)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $30,945/yr
Violent crime (558.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $582,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Thornton, CO
Pros
51% less violent crime than East Los Angeles
Households earn $30,945 more per year on average
Homes cost $137k less ($445,200 vs $582,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
10% cheaper overall cost of living than East Los Angeles
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$30,945
$95,064 vs $64,119/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
51% lower
273.6 vs 558.4 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$137k less
$445,200 vs $582,400
Thornton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | East Los Angeles, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $582,400⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,119 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 147⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (68) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.0% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 55.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Animo Ellen Ochoa Charter Middle District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,222 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
East Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories. East Los Angeles wins 7 and Thornton wins 16. 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 East Los Angeles to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($582,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($64,119 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
East Los Angeles, CA and Thornton, CO are about 835 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.