Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Moreno Valley, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Moreno Valley
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 48°F
Homes cost $24k less ($421,400 vs $445,200)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $12,427/yr
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Thornton, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $12,427 more per year on average
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $100/mo less ($1,758 vs $1,858)
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
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Moreno Valley
Median Home Value
$24k less
$421,400 vs $445,200
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$12,427
$95,064 vs $82,637/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Moreno Valley, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $421,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,858⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,637 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 35.6 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.2:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.2% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.3% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Moreno Valley Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.7" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 209,578 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.0% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.0% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.4% | 10.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Moreno Valley's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Moreno Valley wins 10 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 Moreno Valley to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($421,400 vs $445,200 median home), income ($82,637 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Moreno Valley, CA and Thornton, CO are about 793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.