Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sandy, UT
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories
Sandy
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$108,165 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
65 ✓ Safer
Population
95,635
Thornton
Colorado
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
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.
Sandy, UT
Pros
10% less violent crime than Thornton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (2.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (246.7 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Households earn $13,101 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $492,300
Snowy winters — about 82" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $47k less ($445,200 vs $492,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sandy by $13,101/yr
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 2.2%)
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Sandy
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Sandy
Median Income
$13,101
$108,165 vs $95,064/yr
Sandy
Violent Crime
10% lower
246.7 vs 273.6 per 100k
Sandy
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
2.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Median Home Value
$47k less
$445,200 vs $492,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sandy, UT | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $492,300⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,640⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $108,165 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 69 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.5% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Canyons District | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.7°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.0" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 81.9" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,635 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.5% ✓ Higher | 72.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.8% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sandy's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Sandy is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sandy leads 15 of 23 categories. Sandy wins 15 and Thornton wins 8. 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 Sandy to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($492,300 vs $445,200 median home), income ($108,165 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sandy, UT and Thornton, CO are about 367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.