Revolutionizing · Modernizing · SimplifyingRevolutionizing · Modernizing · SimplifyingSan Rafael and Thornton are both neighbourhoods of Denver, CO. There are 7 homes for sale in San Rafael and 7 in Thornton as this page loaded. San Rafael is the more expensive of the two: a median asking price of $750,000 against $400,000 in Thornton, about 88% higher. By the foot it is $360 in San Rafael against $329 in Thornton. A typical home is 2,085 square feet in San Rafael and 1,176 in Thornton, built around 1890 and 1955 respectively. Homes are moving faster in Thornton: a median of 64 days on the market against 69 in San Rafael. San Rafael is in the Denver 1 school district and Thornton is in Adams 12 5 Star Schl.
| Measure | San Rafael | Thornton |
|---|---|---|
| For sale today | ||
| Homes for sale | 7 | 7 |
| Median asking price | $750,000 | $400,000 |
| Cheapest home for sale | $500,000 | $329,900 |
| Dearest home for sale | $1,175,000 | $435,000 |
| Median price per sq ft | $360 | $329 |
| Median days on market | 69 | 64 |
| The homes themselves | ||
| Median size (sq ft) | 2,085 | 1,176 |
| Median bedrooms | 4 | 3 |
| Typical year built | 1890 | 1955 |
| What actually sold, last 12 months | ||
| Homes sold | 13 | 4 |
| Median sold price | $950,000 | $345,050 |
| Schools the homes for sale are assigned to | ||
| School district | Denver 1 | Adams 12 5 Star Schl |
| Elementary | Cole Arts And Science Academy | Thornton |
| Middle | Whittier E-8 | Thornton |
| High school | East | Thornton |
| Getting around, out of 10 | ||
| Walkability | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Transit | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Biking | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Quiet | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Calm streets | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Getting around | 8/10 | 7/10 |
The darker figure in each row is the lower price, the shorter wait, the bigger number or the higher score — which of those is good news depends entirely on whether you are buying or selling, and on what you want from a street.
San Rafael is a residential neighborhood in northwest Denver known for its tree-lined streets and mix of single-family homes and modest multi-unit properties. Located near I-25 and Colorado Boulevard, it offers convenient access to downtown and the metro area while maintaining a quieter, more established feel. The area features local parks, schools, and small commercial corridors with everyday shops and services.
Thornton is a diverse, family-oriented suburb north of Denver with a strong sense of community. The neighborhood offers a mix of residential areas, local shopping, parks, and schools, making it appealing to families and working professionals. I-25 access provides reasonable commute options to downtown Denver and surrounding areas.
San Rafael is more expensive. The median asking price is $750,000 in San Rafael against $400,000 in Thornton. By price per square foot they run $360 in San Rafael and $329 in Thornton, which is the fairer comparison when the homes are different sizes.
A typical home for sale is 2,085 square feet in San Rafael and 1,176 square feet in Thornton, with a median of 4 and 3 bedrooms respectively.
Going by the homes on the market today, San Rafael is the older of the two: a typical home there was built around 1890, against 1955 in Thornton.
Homes for sale in Thornton have been listed a median of 64 days, against 69 days in San Rafael. Over the last twelve months 13 homes sold in San Rafael and 4 in Thornton, which is the better measure of how busy each one is.
San Rafael is in the Denver 1 district and Thornton is in Adams 12 5 Star Schl. The homes for sale in San Rafael are most often assigned to Cole Arts And Science Academy Elementary, Whittier E-8 Middle, East High School; in Thornton it is Thornton Elementary, Thornton Middle, Thornton High School. School assignment can change, so confirm with the district before it decides anything.
Symbio rates San Rafael 5 out of 10 for walkability, against 4 for Thornton. On transit they score 5 and 4.
They are not a monthly snapshot. Both neighbourhoods are worked out from the live MLS feed every fifteen minutes and both sides are read from the same instant, so the two sides are always measured against each other rather than against different weeks. The exact moment is stamped at the foot of this page.
Both neighbourhoods come from the live MLS feed, worked out again every fifteen minutes, and both are read from the same instant, so the two sides are always comparable. Figures cover residential homes; rentals, land and commercial are excluded, as are fractional co-ownership shares, which are priced per share and would distort the medians. Sold figures cover the last twelve months. Schools shown are the ones the homes for sale today are assigned to and can change - check with the district before relying on them. Market data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
These figures were worked out from the live MLS feed at September 22, 2026 at 8:53 PM Mountain time, and are recomputed every fifteen minutes.