Thornton vs Gainesville: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Thornton, CO and Gainesville, FL, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricThornton, COGainesville, FL
Population141,799142,414
Median household income$95,064$43,783
Median home value$445,200$216,600
Median rent (/mo)$1,758$1,151

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Thornton, CO and Gainesville, FL comes down to what you value most. Gainesville has the lower median home value, and Gainesville has the lower median rent.

Thornton has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Thornton or Gainesville?
By median home value, Gainesville is the cheaper of the two ($216,600 vs $445,200). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Thornton or Gainesville?
Median household income is $95,064 in Thornton versus $43,783 in Gainesville, per the US Census Bureau.

More comparisons