Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverview, FL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Riverview leads 14 of 23 categories
Riverview
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,383
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Thornton
Colorado
9
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.
Riverview, FL
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($292,700 vs $445,200)
52% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 48°F
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Thornton by $7,681/yr
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Thornton, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $7,681 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Riverview
Key Differences at a Glance
Riverview
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Riverview
Violent Crime
52% lower
131.1 vs 273.6 per 100k
Riverview
Median Home Value
$153k less
$292,700 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$7,681
$95,064 vs $87,383/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverview, FL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $292,700 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,757⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $87,383 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.5 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.7% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,467 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.6% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverview's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Riverview is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverview leads 14 of 23 categories. Riverview wins 14 and Thornton wins 9. 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 Riverview to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($292,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($87,383 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverview, FL and Thornton, CO are about 1,537 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.