City Comparison
Thornton vs Denver
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Thornton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Thornton
Denver
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Denver is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Thornton.
| Metric | Thornton | Denver | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,945 | $1,975 | -2% |
| Groceries | $400 | $400 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $180 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $90 | +33% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $220 | +14% |
| Monthly Total | $2,895 | $2,865 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 106 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Denver offers 4% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Denver delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Thornton is estimated at
$62,000 vs $65,000 in Denver.
| Metric | Thornton | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $81,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $65,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 74,286 idx | 76,415 idx |
| Household Income | $103,088 | $94,718 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Thornton sees 0.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Thornton | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 86.80°F | 87.50°F |
| Winter Low | 19.80°F | 19.40°F |
| Rainfall | 17.20 in | 16.90 in |
| Snowfall | 22.80 in | 22.70 in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | 285 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 45.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Denver scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Denver leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Thornton | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 28 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 58.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 62.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | 52.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Denver is the larger city
— approximately 0.2x the population of Thornton.
From a growth perspective, Thornton 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 | Thornton | Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 147,766 | 740,613 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 35.0 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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.
Denver
Advantages
Median household income stands at $94,718, significantly outpacing the national average per U.S. Census data.
Enjoyment of approximately 285 sunny days per year, supporting an active outdoor lifestyle.
Proximity to world-class Rocky Mountain recreation, including premier skiing, hiking, and biking destinations.
Thriving job market with strong sectors in aerospace, technology, and healthcare offering competitive wages.
Vibrant cultural and entertainment ecosystem highlighted by the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre and a thriving craft beverage scene.
Drawbacks
Cost of living runs roughly 6% higher than the national average, led by steep housing and rental expenses.
Median home values of $616,000 present substantial barriers to entry for first-time homebuyers.
Frequent traffic congestion along major commuter corridors like I-25 and I-70 during peak hours.
Air quality can occasionally be impacted by regional wildfire smoke and temperature inversions in the mountain basin.
Property crime rates in certain dense urban neighborhoods require standard metropolitan vigilance.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
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
Denver
#356Colorado, USA
59.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,975
Avg Salary
$81,000
Cost Index
106
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
58.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
285/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
82
Business
75
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