City Comparison
Greeley vs Thornton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Thornton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Greeley
Thornton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Greeley is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
16% lower than in Thornton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Greeley's average rent is
23% lower than Thornton's.
| Metric | Greeley | Thornton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,495 | $1,945 | -23% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $250 | -4% |
| Monthly Total | $2,435 | $2,895 | -16% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 105 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Thornton offers 21% 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 Greeley is estimated at
$52,000 vs $62,000 in Thornton.
| Metric | Greeley | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $62,000 | $78,000 |
| Salary Needed | $52,000 | $62,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,263 idx | 74,286 idx |
| Household Income | $69,881 | $103,088 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.5°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Thornton sees 2.5 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Greeley | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 52.70°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 87.30°F | 86.80°F |
| Winter Low | 17.70°F | 19.80°F |
| Rainfall | 16.80 in | 17.20 in |
| Snowfall | 20.30 in | 22.80 in |
| Sunny Days | 286 | 285 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 45.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Greeley 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 | Greeley | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 48.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 48.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Thornton is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Greeley.
From a growth perspective, Greeley is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Thornton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Greeley | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 115,073 | 147,766 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 1.05% |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 34.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 4.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Greeley
Advantages
Median home prices and average rents remain significantly more affordable than the Colorado state average and neighboring Front Range cities.
A diversified and resilient local economy featuring major employers in food processing, energy, and healthcare.
A youthful, vibrant population and collegiate atmosphere anchored by the University of Northern Colorado and Aims Community College.
Extensive recreational amenities including over 30 parks, miles of trails, and cultural venues like the Union Colony Civic Center.
Recognized economic growth momentum and status as a prominent Northern Colorado regional hub.
Drawbacks
Certain industrial and agricultural operations can create localized odors and environmental management challenges across parts of the city.
Public transit options outside core areas are limited, resulting in high reliance on personal vehicles for daily commutes.
Poverty rates in specific neighborhoods remain slightly higher than the state average due to demographic shifts.
Rapid regional growth has placed upward pressure on traffic congestion along key arterial corridors during peak hours.
Proximity to heavy industrial and energy extraction sites draws ongoing debate regarding environmental and land-use policies.
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.
Greeley
#235Colorado, USA
62.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,495
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
286/yr
Avg Temp
52.70°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
75
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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