Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Reno, NV
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Reno leads 13 of 23 categories
Reno
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,073
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High
Population
265,196 ✓ 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.
Reno, NV
Pros
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Violent crime (529.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $21,991/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $462,100
Thornton, CO
Pros
48% less violent crime than Reno
Households earn $21,991 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Homes cost $17k less ($445,200 vs $462,100)
Cons
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
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Reno
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$21,991
$95,064 vs $73,073/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
48% lower
273.6 vs 529.6 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$17k less
$445,200 vs $462,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Reno, NV | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $462,100⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,073 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 130⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.0:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.3% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Washoe County | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.2" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.3" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 265,196 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.3% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Reno's cost of living index is 102.8 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Reno is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Reno leads 13 of 23 categories. Reno 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 Reno to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($462,100 vs $445,200 median home), income ($73,073 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Reno, NV and Thornton, CO are about 792 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.