Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories
Thornton
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $43,613 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.2 pts lower (4.6%)
15% less violent crime than Waterbury
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 37°F
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
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Waterbury
Waterbury, CT
Pros
Homes cost $282k less ($162,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($1,140 vs $1,758)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $43,613/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 4.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Median Income
$43,613
$95,064 vs $51,451/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
15% lower
273.6 vs 322.5 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
5.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 95.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$282k less
$162,800 vs $445,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 95.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,140 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 107⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 13.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Waterbury is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 16 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 16 and Waterbury 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 Thornton to Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $162,800 median home), income ($95,064 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Waterbury, CT are about 1,665 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.