Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Thornton, CO
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories
Thornton
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $35,752 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than Yuma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Yuma
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($186,500 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $730/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $35,752/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Thornton
Median Income
$35,752
$95,064 vs $59,312/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
35% lower
273.6 vs 423.6 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$259k less
$186,500 vs $445,200
Yuma
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $445,200⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,758⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,064 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 97 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.7% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Adams 12 Five Star Schools | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 141,799 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.7% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.6% ✓ More | 25.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Thornton's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Thornton leads 12 of 23 categories. Thornton wins 12 and Yuma wins 11. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($445,200 vs $186,500 median home), income ($95,064 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Thornton, CO and Yuma, AZ are about 739 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.