Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Indio
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $414/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $72k less ($373,200 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $26,628/yr
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $26,628 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Indio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
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
Indio
Median Home Value
$72k less
$373,200 vs $445,200
Indio
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$26,628
$95,064 vs $68,436/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
19% lower
273.6 vs 336.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Indio 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 Indio to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $445,200 median home), income ($68,436 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Thornton, CO are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.