Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $11,616/yr
Property crime (2832.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
54% less violent crime than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $11,616 more per year on average
Homes cost $40k less ($445,200 vs $485,500)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverside
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$11,616
$95,064 vs $83,448/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
54% lower
273.6 vs 589.7 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$40k less
$445,200 vs $485,500
Thornton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 8 and Thornton wins 15. 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 Riverside to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $445,200 median home), income ($83,448 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Thornton, CO are about 801 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.