Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 Thornton leads 14 of 22 categories
Thornton
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($445,200 vs $664,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($1,758 vs $2,054)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
West Covina, CA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Thornton
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Thornton
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Thornton
Median Home Value
$219k less
$445,200 vs $664,500
Thornton
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.7% unemployment
West Covina
Median Income
$1,155
$96,219 vs $95,064/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
13% lower
239.3 vs 273.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 16.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Thornton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Thornton leads 14 of 22 categories. Thornton wins 14 and West Covina wins 8. 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $664,500 median home), income ($95,064 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and West Covina, CA are about 821 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.