Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories
Sunnyvale
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $79,442 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Thornton
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $1236k less ($445,200 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1232/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,990)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $79,442/yr
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
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$79,442
$174,506 vs $95,064/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
11% lower
244.5 vs 273.6 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Thornton
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Home Value
$1236k less
$445,200 vs $1,680,700
Thornton
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $95,064 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.1 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.5% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 16 of 23 categories. Sunnyvale wins 16 and Thornton wins 7. 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 Sunnyvale to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $445,200 median home), income ($174,506 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and Thornton, CO are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.