Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Westminster, CO
🏆 Thornton leads 11 of 20 categories
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Westminster
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,651
Violent Crime Index
80
Population
115,502
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
10% less violent crime than Westminster
Homes cost $22k less ($445,200 vs $467,200)
Households earn $4,413 more per year on average
Cons
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Westminster, CO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Property crime (3540.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 55" of snow per year
Pricier housing — median home is $467,200
Median income trails Thornton by $4,413/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Median Income
$4,413
$95,064 vs $90,651/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
10% lower
273.6 vs 303.6 per 100k
Thornton
Median Home Value
$22k less
$445,200 vs $467,200
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 105.5 on the COL index
Westminster
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Westminster, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $467,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,732⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 ✓ Higher | $90,651 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 26.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 15.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | Westminster Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 17.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" ✓ Less | 54.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 115,502 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Westminster's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Thornton leads 11 of 20 categories. Thornton wins 11 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $467,200 median home), income ($95,064 vs $90,651), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Westminster, CO are about 7 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.