Thornton, CO vs Vacaville, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Thornton
66.7
#1515 nationally
Vacaville
66.1
#1590 nationally
Thornton leads in cost of living index (130 vs 151). Vacaville leads in walk score (36 vs 32). Vacaville leads in median household income ($106,764 vs $95,064).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Thornton, CO | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.7 (#1515) | 66.1 (#1590) |
| Population | 144,922 | 102,526 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $498,542 | $607,747 |
| Median Household Income | $95,064 | $106,764 |
| Average Commute | 30.9 min | 28.9 min |
| Walk Score | 32 | 36 |
| Crime Level | 7.5 | 8.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 130 | 151 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+9.0 | D+23.0 |
D
66.7 Score
Thornton, CO
Mid-size Colorado city with community character
Median Home
$498,542
Population
144,922
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
32
West
View Thornton, CO →
D
66.1 Score
Vacaville, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$607,747
Population
102,526
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
36
Pacific
View Vacaville, CA →