Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tampa, FL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
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.
Tampa, FL
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($333,200 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $336/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $28,262/yr
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $28,262 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Tampa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
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
Tampa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Home Value
$112k less
$333,200 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$28,262
$95,064 vs $66,802/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
38% lower
273.6 vs 444.6 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tampa, FL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $333,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,802 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.0% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.3% ✓ Higher | 30.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.5" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 388,768 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.5% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tampa's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Tampa wins 14 and Thornton wins 9. 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 Tampa to Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($333,200 vs $445,200 median home), income ($66,802 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tampa, FL and Thornton, CO are about 1,523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.