Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
303,843 ✓ 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.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $273k less ($171,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $605/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $34,877/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,877 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Pittsburgh
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
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 Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$273k less
$171,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$34,877
$95,064 vs $60,187/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
36% lower
273.6 vs 427.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($60,187 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Thornton, CO are about 1,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.