Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Santa Rosa, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories
Santa Rosa
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604
Violent Crime Index
90
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
14
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.
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 48°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($445,200 vs $661,700)
20% less violent crime than Santa Rosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,024)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Cons
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
Thornton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Income
$2,460
$95,064 vs $92,604/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
20% lower
273.6 vs 342.6 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$217k less
$445,200 vs $661,700
Thornton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.6% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Santa Rosa, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 110.1⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $661,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,024⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,604 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.9% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.5:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Rincon Valley Union Elementary | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 31.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 178,221 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 40.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.3% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Santa Rosa's cost of living index is 110.1 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 14 of 23 categories. Santa Rosa wins 9 and Thornton wins 14. 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 Santa Rosa to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($661,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($92,604 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Santa Rosa, CA and Thornton, CO are about 955 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.