Salary Comparison
Patternmakers: Thornton vs Dayton
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Thornton, CO
$61,532/yr
Dayton, OH
$49,704/yr
Our recommendation: Dayton, OH
Dayton offers $41 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Thornton
Dayton
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$61,532
$49,704
+$11,828
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$3,743
$3,024
+$719
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
100
72
+28 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,697
$1,937
+$760
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,580
$980
+$600
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$1,046
$1,087
$41
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
1.39×
1.56×
-0.17×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
5/10 (Tight)
6/10 (Moderate)
-1
A vs B
Thornton — Full Details
Dayton — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.