Signals
Thornton
Highlands Ranch
Climate
59 · Bottom 11%
vs62 · Bottom 23%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 38%
vs54 · Bottom 46%
Housing affordability
68 · Bottom 31%
vs81 · Top 50%
Access
100 · Top 1%
vs100 · Top 1%
Economic stability
78 · Top 10%
vs84 · Top 2%
Measured values
| Metric | Thornton | Highlands Ranch | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 144,187 | 102,257 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $103,088 | $159,307 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $43,571 | $71,247 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,948/sq mi | 4,214/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $517,500 | $712,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,895 | $2,531 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 71.4% | 78.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.8% | 67.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.0% | 2.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 15.4" | 15.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 7 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 26.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.7 | 41.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 44 | 24 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 17.67 | 17.70 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 57.9% | 14.3% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Thornton
Elevated or high exposure: hail.
Highlands Ranch
Elevated or high exposure: hail, wildfire, tornado.
Your best match
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Thornton
67
Your Score
61
Area Score
Highlands Ranch
76
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Thornton, CO · Highlands Ranch, CO · How this is calculated: methodology