Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reading, PA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Reading
Pennsylvania
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($96,900 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $816/mo less ($942 vs $1,758)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $52,212/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $52,212 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (4.6%)
19% less violent crime than Reading
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Reading
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Reading
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$348k less
$96,900 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$52,212
$95,064 vs $42,852/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
19% lower
273.6 vs 337.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 11.3% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 86.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reading, PA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $96,900 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $942 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $42,852 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 81 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 11.7% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 71.6% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Reading SD | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.2" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,601 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.1 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 26.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reading's cost of living index is 92.5 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Reading wins 10 and Thornton wins 13. 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 Reading to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($96,900 vs $445,200 median home), income ($42,852 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reading, PA and Thornton, CO are about 1,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.