City · Colorado
Thornton, Colorado
Thornton, city, in Adams County, Colorado. Thornton had 147,766 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.2% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 141,867 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 144,187 (±118). GEOID 0877290.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
147,766
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 141,867 · ACS 2020-2024: 144,187 ±118
Median household income
$103,088
±$2,467 (90% margin)
Colorado: $95,470
Median home value
$517,500
±$11,205 (90% margin)
Colorado: $539,400
Median gross rent
$1,895
±$43 (90% margin)
Colorado: $1,761
Where is Thornton and what county is it in?
Thornton is a city in Adams County, Colorado. It covers 36.5 square miles of land, 3,884 residents per square mile in 2020.
Thornton is in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 10 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 141,867 | 100.0% |
| Weld County | land only, no residents | – |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Thornton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 147,766 people lived in Thornton on July 1, 2025, up 4.2% since 2020, in line with Colorado (+4.1%). The 2020 Census counted 141,867 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 144,187 (±118).
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 144,187 ±118 | 530,225 | +7,319 |
| Households | 50,566 ±983 | 188,730 | +4,890 |
| Average household size | 2.84 ±0.05 | 2.79 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 52,250 ±961 | 195,793 | +4,868 |
Thornton's population since 2000
From 82,384 in 2000 to 147,766 in 2025: up 79.4%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Thornton as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Thornton?
The median resident of Thornton is 34.7 years old; 25.0% are under 18 and 10.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 50.2%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 37.7%. 14.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 ±0.7 | 34.8 | +0.9 |
| Under 18 years | 25.0% ±0.8 pts | 24.9% | – |
| 65 years and over | 10.8% ±0.5 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±0.8 pts | 50.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 37.7% ±1.5 pts | 42.8% | +3.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 50.2% ±1.3 pts | 45.2% | −5.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 2.0% ±0.5 pts | 3.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 5.2% ±0.7 pts | 3.8% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.1% ±0.6 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.2 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 14.0% ±1.1 pts | 15.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 25.9% ±1.7 pts | 29.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.2% ±0.7 pts | 6.1% | – |
| With a disability | 10.6% ±0.7 pts | 11.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.9% ±1.3 pts | 11.6% | +1.6 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.9% ±1.0 pts | 85.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 32.8% ±1.5 pts | 29.0% | +3.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.7% ±0.9 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.7% ±1.5 pts | 85.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.4% ±0.6 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Thornton earn?
Half of Thornton's 50,566 households earn less than $103,088 a year (±$2,467), against $94,571 in Adams County and $95,470 in Colorado. In 2015-2019 the median was $97,731 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $5,357 after inflation. 7.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $103,088 ±$2,467 | $94,571 | +$5,357 |
| Mean household income | $122,983 ±$3,992 | $116,985 | – |
| Per capita income | $43,571 ±$1,498 | $42,206 | +$3,589 |
| People below the poverty line | 7.0% ±1.2 pts | 9.8% | −1.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 8.7% ±2.4 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 9.0% ±1.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.7% ±0.4 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 96.5% ±0.8 pts | 92.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Thornton?
Owners occupy 71.4% of Thornton's occupied homes and renters 28.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $517,500 by its owner (±$11,205). The median renter pays $1,895 a month including utilities, and 48.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $517,500 ±$11,205 | $484,200 | +$120,970 |
| Median gross rent | $1,895 ±$43 | $1,781 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 48.9% ±4.4 pts | 45.8% | +6.2 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,381 ±$45 | $2,378 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.4% ±1.6 pts | 68.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 28.6% ±1.6 pts | 31.4% | – |
| Housing units | 52,250 ±961 | 195,793 | +4,868 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.5% ±1.8 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.6% ±1.5 pts | 62.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.6% ±0.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.8% ±0.6 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.7% ±1.1 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.0% ±0.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Thornton building?
Builders took permits for 395 new housing units in Thornton in 2025 (263 in single-family houses), 2.7 per 1,000 residents against 5.6 across Colorado.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Thornton work and get to work?
71.1% of Thornton's workers drive alone and 15.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.5%.
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 74.0% ±1.1 pts | 72.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% ±0.7 pts | 4.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.1% ±1.8 pts | 70.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.2% ±1.3 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.6% ±0.4 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Walked | 0.6% ±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.3% ±1.3 pts | 15.2% | +8.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.4 min ±0.9 | 29.8 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Thornton?
26 census tracts lie mostly in Thornton, and 16 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $61,731 (Tract 93.18) to $168,108 (Tract 600.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 85.40Adams County | 10,799 | $165,386 |
| Tract 85.24Adams County | 8,976 | $142,096 |
| Tract 85.50Adams County | 8,191 | $118,438 |
| Tract 91.04Adams County | 7,108 | $97,577 |
| Tract 92.04Adams County | 6,591 | $94,583 |
| Tract 85.45Adams County | 6,373 | $142,717 |
| Tract 85.26Adams County | 7,537 | $120,580 |
| Tract 85.55Adams County | 6,634 | $68,165 |
| Tract 85.08Adams County | 5,787 | $79,984 |
| Tract 85.44Adams County | 5,998 | $138,032 |
| Tract 92.07Adams County | 4,764 | $87,153 |
| Tract 93.22Adams County | 5,133 | $85,101 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Thornton) · Census block assignment files
How does Thornton compare with other places in Colorado?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Thornton is the 190th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 6th-most populous of 272 in Colorado.
Thornton ranks 79th of 218 places in Colorado with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 6th | 272 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 56th | 150 |
| Residents per square mile | 22nd | 221 |
| Median household income | 79th | 218 |
| Per capita income | 118th | 220 |
| Median home value | 104th | 217 |
| Median gross rent | 60th | 200 |
| Poverty rate | 108th | 151 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 129th | 216 |
| Median age | 168th | 220 |
| Owner-occupied share | 115th | 218 |
| Work from home | 109th | 176 |
| Travel time to work | 43rd | 221 |
Thornton's figures with every place in Colorado (CSV)
Every place in Colorado, sortable · Compare Thornton with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Thornton?
2 of the 57 figures for Thornton on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Thornton are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Thornton.