Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Providence leads 12 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
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.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($293,000 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $33,699/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $33,699 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°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
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$152k less
$293,000 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$33,699
$95,064 vs $61,365/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% | 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 | 73 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Providence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Providence leads 12 of 23 categories. Providence wins 12 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Providence to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $445,200 median home), income ($61,365 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Thornton, CO are about 1,745 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.