Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lakewood
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,665 vs $1,758)
Cons
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $12,278/yr
Property crime (5093.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Thornton, CO
Pros
65% less violent crime than Lakewood
Households earn $12,278 more per year on average
Homes cost $49k less ($445,200 vs $494,100)
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Thornton
Median Income
$12,278
$95,064 vs $82,786/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
65% lower
273.6 vs 787.2 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$49k less
$445,200 vs $494,100
Thornton
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lakewood wins 11 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Lakewood to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($82,786 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Thornton, CO are about 18 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.