Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($133,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($1,044 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 9 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 — 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $38,944/yr
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $38,944 more per year on average
74% less violent crime than Kansas City
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Kansas City
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$311k less
$133,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$38,944
$95,064 vs $56,120/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
74% lower
273.6 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Kansas City is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City 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 Kansas City to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($56,120 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Thornton, CO are about 546 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.