Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Richmond, VA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories
Richmond
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ 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.
Richmond, VA
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($308,300 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $531/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $35,458/yr
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,458 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
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
Richmond
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Median Home Value
$137k less
$308,300 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$35,458
$95,064 vs $59,606/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
19% lower
273.6 vs 336.9 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Richmond, VA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $308,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,606 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.3% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 114⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 151⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond City Public Schools | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.5°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.8" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 227,171 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.2% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Richmond's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 13 of 23 categories. Richmond 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 Richmond to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($308,300 vs $445,200 median home), income ($59,606 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Richmond, VA and Thornton, CO are about 1,484 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.