City Comparison
Thornton vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Thornton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Thornton
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Grants Pass is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
11% lower than in Thornton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Thornton's average rent is
34% higher than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Thornton | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,945 | $1,450 | +34% |
| Groceries | $400 | $450 | -11% |
| Utilities | $180 | $400 | -55% |
| Transport | $120 | $120 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $150 | +67% |
| Monthly Total | $2,895 | $2,570 | +13% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Thornton offers 21% higher 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 Thornton is estimated at
$62,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Thornton | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 74,286 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $103,088 | $59,646 |
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 | Thornton | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 86.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 19.80°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 17.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 22.80 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 285 | |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
5,000 minutes (83 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 | Thornton | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 55.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Thornton is the larger city
— approximately 3.7x the population of Grants Pass.
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 | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 147,766 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 5.60% |
| 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.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.
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
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
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