Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Orlando leads 13 of 23 categories
Orlando
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($332,700 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $249/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,758)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $28,772/yr
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Thornton, CO
Pros
67% less violent crime than Orlando
Households earn $28,772 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
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
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Home Value
$113k less
$332,700 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$28,772
$95,064 vs $66,292/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
67% lower
273.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orlando leads 13 of 23 categories. Orlando wins 13 and Thornton wins 10. 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 Orlando to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($66,292 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and Thornton, CO are about 1,563 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.