Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Leandro, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 17 of 23 categories
San Leandro
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,141 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High
Population
89,723
Thornton
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Leandro, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $772,700
Violent crime (548.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $328k less ($445,200 vs $772,700)
50% less violent crime than San Leandro
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Leandro
Rent averages $239/mo less ($1,758 vs $1,997)
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
San Leandro
Median Income
$2,077
$97,141 vs $95,064/yr
Thornton
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
50% lower
273.6 vs 548.7 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$328k less
$445,200 vs $772,700
Thornton
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Leandro, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $772,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,997⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,141 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.6 min⚠ High | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.2% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 161⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.3% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Leandro Unified | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.7" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,723 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.6% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Leandro's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 17 of 23 categories. San Leandro wins 6 and Thornton wins 17. 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 San Leandro to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($772,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($97,141 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Leandro, CA and Thornton, CO are about 938 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.