Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $166/mo less ($1,592 vs $1,758)
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Thornton by $16,110/yr
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
64% less violent crime than Sacramento
Households earn $16,110 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$16,110
$95,064 vs $78,954/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
64% lower
273.6 vs 754.9 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, 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 | $450,500⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.0:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Sacramento wins 11 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Sacramento to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $445,200 median home), income ($78,954 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Thornton, CO are about 888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.