Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
West Jordan, UT
🏆 West Jordan leads 13 of 23 categories
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
West Jordan
Utah
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$99,002 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
116,383
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 40°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
West Jordan, UT
Pros
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $33k less ($412,100 vs $445,200)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Households earn $3,938 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 56" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Violent Crime
7% lower
273.6 vs 294.2 per 100k
West Jordan
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
West Jordan
Median Income
$3,938
$99,002 vs $95,064/yr
West Jordan
Median Home Value
$33k less
$412,100 vs $445,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | West Jordan, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 98.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High | $412,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 | $99,002 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 24.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 65 ✓ 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 | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | Jordan District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 40.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 20.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" ✓ Less | 55.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 116,383 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% | 77.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.6% | 28.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% ✓ More | 8.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs West Jordan's 98.5 (US average = 100).
West Jordan is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Jordan leads 13 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 10 and West Jordan wins 13. 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 Jordan or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $412,100 median home), income ($95,064 vs $99,002), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and West Jordan, UT are about 375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.