Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Midland leads 13 of 22 categories
Midland
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
132,490
Thornton
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Homes cost $165k less ($280,700 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $4,616/yr
Thornton, CO
Pros
25% less violent crime than Midland
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,616 more per year on average
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
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Midland
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Home Value
$165k less
$280,700 vs $445,200
Midland
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Income
$4,616
$95,064 vs $90,448/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
25% lower
273.6 vs 364.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Midland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Midland leads 13 of 22 categories. Midland wins 13 and Thornton wins 9. 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 Midland to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($90,448 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Thornton, CO are about 568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.