Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,483
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Thornton
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
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.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $138k less ($307,700 vs $445,200)
12% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $28,581/yr
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,581 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 101.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
12% lower
242.1 vs 273.6 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Median Home Value
$138k less
$307,700 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$28,581
$95,064 vs $66,483/yr
Thornton
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 87.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 44.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Spokane Valley is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 15 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley wins 8 and Thornton wins 15. 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 Spokane Valley to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($66,483 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Thornton, CO are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.