Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Madison, WI
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Madison leads 16 of 23 categories
Madison
Wisconsin
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,895
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
268,516 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Madison, WI
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($326,600 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $467/mo less ($1,291 vs $1,758)
More college-educated — 58.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (256.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (2.6%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $20,169/yr
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $20,169 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 28°F
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
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Madison
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Madison
Violent Crime
6% lower
256.0 vs 273.6 per 100k
Madison
Median Home Value
$119k less
$326,600 vs $445,200
Madison
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
2.6% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Income
$20,169
$95,064 vs $74,895/yr
Thornton
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 82.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Madison, WI | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $326,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,291 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,895 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (124) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.9% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Madison Metropolitan School District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.7°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.2°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.5" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 268,516 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 31.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Madison's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Madison is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Madison leads 16 of 23 categories. Madison wins 16 and Thornton wins 7. 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 Madison to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($326,600 vs $445,200 median home), income ($74,895 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Madison, WI and Thornton, CO are about 831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.