Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Thornton
Colorado
13
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($150,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $738/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $37,649/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,649 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Independence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Independence
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$294k less
$150,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$37,649
$95,064 vs $57,415/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
52% lower
273.6 vs 571.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Independence is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Independence wins 10 and Thornton wins 13. 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 Independence to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($57,415 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Thornton, CO are about 567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.