Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Green Bay, WI
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Green Bay
Wisconsin
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,174
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
106,846
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Green Bay, WI
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($172,700 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $894/mo less ($864 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $35,890/yr
Violent crime (495.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,890 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Green Bay
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 25°F
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Green Bay
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Green Bay
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Green Bay
Median Home Value
$273k less
$172,700 vs $445,200
Green Bay
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Income
$35,890
$95,064 vs $59,174/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
45% lower
273.6 vs 495.1 per 100k
Thornton
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Green Bay, WI | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $172,700 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $864 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,174 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 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 | 130⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.1% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Green Bay Area Public School District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 24.5°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 79.8°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 32.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 55.6" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,846 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.2% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.9% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Bay's cost of living index is 92.1 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Green Bay is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Green Bay wins 11 and Thornton wins 12. 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 Green Bay to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($172,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($59,174 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Green Bay, WI and Thornton, CO are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.