Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories
Roseville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roseville, CA
Pros
20% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,201 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($445,200 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($1,758 vs $1,940)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $17,201/yr
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
Roseville
Median Income
$17,201
$112,265 vs $95,064/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
20% lower
219.2 vs 273.6 per 100k
Thornton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Home Value
$152k less
$445,200 vs $596,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 39.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roseville leads 16 of 23 categories. Roseville wins 16 and Thornton wins 7. 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 Roseville to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($112,265 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and Thornton, CO are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.