Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 14 of 23 categories
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 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $32,008 more per year on average
30% less violent crime than Tyler
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Tyler
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tyler, TX
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($205,200 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $32,008/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Median Income
$32,008
$95,064 vs $63,056/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
30% lower
273.6 vs 391.2 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$240k less
$205,200 vs $445,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 14 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 9 and Tyler 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 Thornton to Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $205,200 median home), income ($95,064 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Tyler, TX are about 751 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.