Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories
Thornton
Colorado
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $36,156 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Wilmington
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,758)
Homes cost $127k less ($318,600 vs $445,200)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $36,156/yr
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Median Income
$36,156
$95,064 vs $58,908/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
43% lower
273.6 vs 482.8 per 100k
Wilmington
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Home Value
$127k less
$318,600 vs $445,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 13 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 10 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($95,064 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Wilmington, NC are about 1,536 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.