City Comparison
Colorado Springs vs Thornton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Thornton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Colorado Springs
Thornton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Colorado Springs is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
6% lower than in Thornton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Colorado Springs's average rent is
10% lower than Thornton's.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Thornton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,750 | $1,945 | -10% |
| Groceries | $420 | $400 | +5% |
| Utilities | $170 | $180 | -6% |
| Transport | $130 | $120 | +8% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $250 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,710 | $2,895 | -6% |
| Cost Index | 101 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Thornton offers 9% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Thornton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Colorado Springs is estimated at
$58,000 vs $62,000 in Thornton.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $71,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 70,297 idx | 74,286 idx |
| Household Income | $84,818 | $103,088 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Thornton runs warmer on average — a 53.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Thornton comes out ahead with 285 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Thornton sees 22.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | °F | 86.80°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 19.80°F |
| Rainfall | in | 17.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 22.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 45.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Colorado Springs has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Thornton.
Thornton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Thornton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 42.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 44.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Colorado Springs is the larger city
— approximately 3.3x the population of Thornton.
From a growth perspective, Thornton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Colorado Springs has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Colorado Springs | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 494,743 | 147,766 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.57% | 1.05% |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 34.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.10% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Colorado Springs
Advantages
Median home value remains more accessible than Denver metro counterparts per Zillow 2026 data
Unemployment rate sits at a healthy 4.1% matching competitive national benchmarks per BLS
Unmatched proximity to iconic outdoor recreation including Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods
Robust local economy driven by aerospace, defense technology, and high-tech sectors
Average monthly earnings outpace national averages per recent BLS occupational wage reports
Drawbacks
High elevation and dry climate require adjustment periods for new residents
Significant car dependency across sprawling suburban neighborhoods limits transit utility
Property crime rates in certain central urban pockets remain above national medians
Rapid historical growth has strained local infrastructure and traffic capacity on I-25
Home prices and rents have escalated significantly compared to pre-2020 affordability levels
Thornton
Advantages
Median household income stands strong at $103,088, comfortably outpacing the national median.
Strategic location along the I-25 corridor provides rapid access to downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
Extensive recreational infrastructure featuring over 81 parks and extensive multi-use trail networks.
Direct commuter rail access to the Denver metro area via the RTD N Line stations.
Proactive municipal planning and infrastructure investment ensuring robust water supply and commercial growth.
Drawbacks
Cost of living sits roughly 5.8% above the national average, driven by competitive regional housing pressures.
High car dependency across many older neighborhoods outside of the newer transit-oriented developments.
Significant commuter traffic bottlenecks along major interstate corridors during peak morning and evening hours.
Average home purchase and rental prices have climbed sharply over recent years, challenging first-time buyers.
Continental interior climate brings volatile winter temperature swings and occasional heavy spring snowstorms.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Colorado Springs
#307Colorado, USA
61.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,750
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
101
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
42.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.57%
Unemployment
4.10%
Livability
80
Business
72
Thornton
#197Colorado, USA
63.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,945
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
105
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
55.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
285/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.05%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
76
Business
70
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