Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Everett, WA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories
Everett
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,806
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
110,847
Thornton
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Everett, WA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (265.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $147/mo less ($1,611 vs $1,758)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $17,258/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3219.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $17,258 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Everett
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $26k less ($445,200 vs $471,200)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$17,258
$95,064 vs $77,806/yr
Thornton
Median Home Value
$26k less
$445,200 vs $471,200
Thornton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 74.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Everett, WA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $471,200⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,611⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,806 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.9% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Everett School District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.9°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 110,847 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.5% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everett's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories. Everett 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 Everett to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($471,200 vs $445,200 median home), income ($77,806 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Everett, WA and Thornton, CO are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.