Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories
Ontario
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
15
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.
Ontario, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $16,994/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $16,994 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $68k less ($445,200 vs $513,000)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$16,994
$95,064 vs $78,070/yr
Thornton
Median Home Value
$68k less
$445,200 vs $513,000
Thornton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 10.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario'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 15 of 23 categories. Ontario wins 8 and Thornton wins 15. 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 Ontario to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($78,070 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Thornton, CO are about 807 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.