Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Lakeland leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($207,800 vs $445,200)
80% less violent crime than Thornton
Rent averages $541/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,758)
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $36,774/yr
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,774 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Lakeland
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Violent Crime
80% lower
56.0 vs 273.6 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$237k less
$207,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$36,774
$95,064 vs $58,290/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($58,290 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Thornton, CO are about 1,544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.