Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Houston leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($235,000 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $34,624/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
76% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $34,624 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$210k less
$235,000 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$34,624
$95,064 vs $60,440/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
76% lower
273.6 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Houston is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Houston leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 13 and Thornton wins 10. 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 Houston to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($60,440 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Thornton, CO are about 884 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.