Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Frisco, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Frisco leads 18 of 23 categories
Frisco
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$144,567 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
27 ✓ Safer
Population
202,075 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Frisco, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Thornton
Households earn $49,503 more per year on average
More college-educated — 65.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (100.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $531,400
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($445,200 vs $531,400)
Cons
Median income trails Frisco by $49,503/yr
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Frisco
Key Differences at a Glance
Frisco
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Frisco
Median Income
$49,503
$144,567 vs $95,064/yr
Frisco
Violent Crime
63% lower
100.9 vs 273.6 per 100k
Frisco
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.6% unemployment
Frisco
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Home Value
$86k less
$445,200 vs $531,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Frisco, 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 | $531,400⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,803⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $144,567 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 29.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 35 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (130) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FRISCO ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,075 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 67.2% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.4% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Frisco's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Frisco is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Frisco leads 18 of 23 categories. Frisco wins 18 and Thornton wins 5. 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 Frisco to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($531,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($144,567 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Frisco, TX and Thornton, CO are about 649 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.