Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Long Beach, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 22 categories
Long Beach
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Long Beach, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 33.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $16,069/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($445,200 vs $709,700)
60% less violent crime than Long Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $16,069 more per year on average
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$16,069
$95,064 vs $78,995/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
60% lower
273.6 vs 676.4 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$265k less
$445,200 vs $709,700
Thornton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Long Beach, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $709,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,698⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,995 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 173⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 166⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.7% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.4°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 462,293 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Long Beach's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 22 categories. Long Beach wins 9 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 Long Beach to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($709,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($78,995 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Long Beach, CA and Thornton, CO are about 844 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.