Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
12
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($155,200 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $791/mo less ($967 vs $1,758)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $46,167/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $46,167 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$290k less
$155,200 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$46,167
$95,064 vs $48,897/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
82% lower
273.6 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $445,200 median home), income ($48,897 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Thornton, CO are about 1,276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.