Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
9
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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,576 vs $1,758)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $16,087/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $16,087 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $52k less ($445,200 vs $497,400)
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Fort Collins
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$16,087
$95,064 vs $78,977/yr
Thornton
Median Home Value
$52k less
$445,200 vs $497,400
Thornton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 14 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 14 and Thornton wins 9. 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 Fort Collins to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($78,977 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Thornton, CO are about 44 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.