Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories
Thornton
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $115k less ($445,200 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $383/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,141)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Vacaville by $11,700/yr
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $11,700 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.6%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Thornton
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Violent Crime
7% lower
273.6 vs 293.2 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$115k less
$445,200 vs $560,400
Thornton
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Median Income
$11,700
$106,764 vs $95,064/yr
Vacaville
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 24.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 22.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 13 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 13 and Vacaville wins 10. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $560,400 median home), income ($95,064 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Vacaville, CA are about 917 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.