Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Provo, UT
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Provo leads 12 of 22 categories
Provo
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,943
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
114,400
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Provo, UT
Pros
Rent averages $669/mo less ($1,089 vs $1,758)
24% less violent crime than Thornton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (206.6 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $54k less ($391,500 vs $445,200)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $37,121/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $37,121 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 41°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Provo
Key Differences at a Glance
Provo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Provo
Violent Crime
24% lower
206.6 vs 273.6 per 100k
Provo
Median Home Value
$54k less
$391,500 vs $445,200
Provo
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.2°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Income
$37,121
$95,064 vs $57,943/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Provo, UT | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.8 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $391,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,089 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,943 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 57 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.9:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Provo District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.2°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,400 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 23.6 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.1% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 6.4% | 10.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Provo's cost of living index is 95.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Provo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Provo leads 12 of 22 categories. Provo wins 12 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 Provo to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($391,500 vs $445,200 median home), income ($57,943 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Provo, UT and Thornton, CO are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.