Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Goodyear, AZ
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Goodyear leads 18 of 23 categories
Goodyear
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,307 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
97,542
Thornton
Colorado
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
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.
Goodyear, AZ
Pros
33% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.2 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $49k less ($396,100 vs $445,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Thornton, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Goodyear
Key Differences at a Glance
Goodyear
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Goodyear
Median Income
$2,243
$97,307 vs $95,064/yr
Goodyear
Violent Crime
33% lower
182.2 vs 273.6 per 100k
Goodyear
Median Home Value
$49k less
$396,100 vs $445,200
Goodyear
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 107.4°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Goodyear, AZ | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $396,100⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,307 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Incito Schools (91326) | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 107.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,542 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.8% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.0% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Goodyear's cost of living index is 101.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Goodyear is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Goodyear leads 18 of 23 categories. Goodyear 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 Goodyear to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($396,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($97,307 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Goodyear, AZ and Thornton, CO are about 617 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.