2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Thornton, CO vs Ruidoso, NM

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Ruidoso or is it cheaper to live in Thornton?
- Ruidoso is 26.6% less expensive than Thornton.

Which city has more affordable housing, Ruidoso or Thornton?
- Ruidoso housing costs are 49.2% less expensive than Thornton housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Thornton or is Health Care more affordable in Ruidoso.
- Health related expenses are 0.9% more in Ruidoso.
 Thornton, CORuidoso, NMUnited States
 Overall  Unlock89.0100
 Food & Groceries100.0  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock85.8100
 Housing160.3  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$282,600$338,100
 Utilities98  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock68.2100
 Miscellaneous111.3  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Thornton    5 Reviews

Good place. Very suburbany (similar to the Springs). The houses are very small and old and yet still very expensive (albeit cheaper than southern Denver). Actually lots  More

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Over 5 years ago

I like Denver metro, but some cities aren’t too great. Thornton being one of them. Moved here because of highway access, and convenience to DIA for business travel. Am  More

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Over 10 years ago

The quality of life here in not good. The traffic is bad all the time. To try to get to the mountains takes forever! Also most lakes along the front range you can't even  More

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Reviews for Ruidoso    12 Reviews

Over 3 years ago

Best place in NM to live , unless you like crowds, traffic, crime, and concrete. Plenty of jobs and min wage is now close to $12/hr. Housing is a little pricey but  More

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Over 3 years ago

I love Ruidoso, or "noisy river". I have always visited but now i live here. Was my first choice if I ever moved. I am so glad I left El Paso, was getting way to big  More

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I’ve lived in this town for nine years and loved it. The weather is by far the best thing about this town. Just don’t be a “rude Texan,“ and you will be fine. Try not to  More

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