Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $20,800 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Higher unemployment (6.4% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($445,200 vs $560,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,076)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $20,800/yr
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
Elk Grove
Median Income
$20,800
$115,864 vs $95,064/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
31% lower
189.9 vs 273.6 per 100k
Thornton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Home Value
$115k less
$445,200 vs $560,500
Thornton
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 15 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 15 and Thornton wins 8. 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 Elk Grove to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $445,200 median home), income ($115,864 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Thornton, CO are about 886 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.