Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Thornton
Colorado
4
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
46% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (2.7%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Rent averages $210/mo less ($1,548 vs $1,758)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Meridian
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Violent Crime
46% lower
146.8 vs 273.6 per 100k
Meridian
Median Home Value
$19k less
$425,800 vs $445,200
Meridian
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
2.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Income
$1,768
$95,064 vs $93,296/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 19 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 19 and Thornton wins 4. 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 Meridian to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($93,296 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Thornton, CO are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.