Thornton, CO Local Data & Statistics

State: CO

Total population: 144,187 Household income: $103,088 Rent: $1,895

Overview

Total population

144,187

Rent

$1,895

Year built

1997

Household income

$103,088

Per capita income

$43,571

Poverty rate

Unemployment rate

4.4%

Household size

2.8 persons

Rent over 30% of income

56.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Colorado

Total population

144,187

Adults over 25

93,803

Total households

50,566

Household size

2.8 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$103,088

Per capita income

$43,571

Poverty rate

Unemployment rate

4.4%

Rent over 30% of income

56.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,895

Year built

1997

Households that rent

28.6%

Households that own

71.4%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

58.8%

Black

2.4%

Asian

5.3%

Two or more races

20.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

37.7%

Not Hispanic or Latino

62.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.7%

Commute time to work

30 mins

Work from home

15.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

31.3%

High school graduate or GED

25.7%

Some college or associate degree

10.3%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

32.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Thornton, CO with: Colorado United States

Thornton, CO

Total population144,187

Rent$1,895

Year built1997

Household income$103,088

Per capita income$43,571

Poverty rate7%

Unemployment rate4.4%

Colorado State

Total population5,862,189

Rent$1,761

Year built1988

Household income$95,470

Per capita income$52,636

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityThornton, CO	StateColorado	CountryUnited States
Total population	144,187	5,862,189	334,922,499
Rent	$1,895	$1,761	$1,413
Year built	1997	1988	1980
Household income	$103,088	$95,470	$80,734
Per capita income	$43,571	$52,636	$44,673
Poverty rate	7%	9.4%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.4%	4.3%	4%

View the complete comparison of Thornton, CO, Colorado and United States →

Summary for Thornton, CO

Thornton is located in Colorado.

Rent & Income

In Thornton, the typical monthly rent is $1,895 and the typical household income is $103,088. Rent here is higher than in both Colorado and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 7%, which is lower than in both Colorado and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 28.6% of households. About 56.2% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 32.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.4%, which is similar to Colorado and higher than the national rate.

Thornton, CO — Rent vs Household Income

Thornton, CO — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Thornton, CO compares in Colorado (19 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,895	14 / 19	from lower rent	$1,082 – $2,148
Household income	$103,088	7 / 19	from higher income	$56,664 – $145,197
Poverty rate	7%	6 / 19	from lower poverty	3.3% – 21.5%
Unemployment rate	4.4%	7 / 19	from lower unemployment	3.9% – 6.6%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Colorado with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Thornton, CO

Rent

When it comes to rent costs, Thornton places 14th among 19 large places in Colorado. Across the state, rents run from $1,082 in Pueblo, CO up to $2,148 in Centennial, CO.

Household income

Looking at household income, Thornton places 7th out of 19 significant areas. Incomes across Colorado range between $56,664 in Pueblo, CO and $145,197 in Castle Rock, CO.

Poverty rate

Poverty levels put Thornton in 6th place among 19 significant areas. Across Colorado, poverty ranges between 3.3% and 21.5%.

Unemployment rate

Unemployment levels put Thornton in 7th place among 19 large places. Statewide unemployment spans from 3.9% in Fort Collins, CO to 6.6% in Pueblo, CO.

💰 Rent in Thornton, CO (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,895 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Thornton, CO

Annual Household Income: $103,088

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Thornton, CO

Estimated Rate: 7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Thornton, CO

In Thornton, CO, households that rent: 14,457 (28.6%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	14,457	28.6%
Owner-Occupied	36,109	71.4%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Thornton, CO

In Thornton, CO, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 8,125 (56.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	8,125	56.2%
Other renter households	6,332	43.8%
Total renter households	14,457	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Thornton, CO

Less than High School: 29,343 people (31.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 24,081 people (25.7%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 9,626 people (10.3%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 30,753 people (32.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 93,803

📊 Unemployment Rate in Thornton, CO

Estimated Rate: 4.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

McAllen, TX143,789 Olathe, KS143,720 Gainesville, FL143,611 Torrance, CA143,499 Visalia, CA142,649 Syracuse, NY146,211 Waco, TX141,925 Denton, TX146,987 Fullerton, CA141,278 Savannah, GA147,546

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.