Township · Illinois
Thornton Township, Illinois
Thornton Township, township, in Cook County, Illinois. Thornton Township had 152,667 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 157,865 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 153,682 (±36). GEOID 1703175198.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
152,667
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 157,865 · ACS 2020-2024: 153,682 ±36
Median household income
$58,534
±$2,420 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$156,800
±$3,551 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$1,203
±$26 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Thornton Township and what county is it in?
Thornton Township is a township in Cook County, Illinois. It covers 46.9 square miles of land, 3,366 residents per square mile in 2020.
11 places lie inside Thornton Township, the largest Calumet City (city, 36,033 residents in 2020); 6 places lie partly in it.
- Calumet City city, 36,033 in 2020
- Lansing village, 29,076 in 2020
- South Holland village, 21,465 in 2020
- Dolton village, 21,426 in 2020
- Harvey city, 20,324 in 2020
- Riverdale village, 10,663 in 2020
- Burnham village, 4,046 in 2020
- Dixmoor village, 2,973 in 2020
- Thornton village, 2,386 in 2020
- Phoenix village, 1,708 in 2020
- East Hazel Crest village, 1,297 in 2020
- Blue Island city, partly in the town
- Homewood village, partly in the town
- Hazel Crest village, partly in the town
- Markham city, partly in the town
- Glenwood village, partly in the town
- Posen village, partly in the town
Thornton Township is in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 13 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Thornton Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 152,667 people lived in Thornton Township on July 1, 2025, down 3.3% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 157,865 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 153,682 (±36).
| Measure | Thornton Township | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 153,682±36 | 5,182,090 | −13,235 |
| Households | 58,792±1,239 | 2,100,230 | −1,673 |
| Average household size | 2.58±0.05 | 2.43 | −0.15 |
| Housing units | 67,747±1,279 | 2,276,493 | −3,203 |
Thornton Township's population since 2000
From 180,802 in 2000 to 152,667 in 2025: down 15.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Thornton Township 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 Township?
The median resident of Thornton Township is 38.9 years old; 24.9% are under 18 and 16.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 68.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 16.0%. 9.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Thornton Township | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9±1.1 | 38.0 | +1.6 |
| Under 18 years | 24.9%±1.2 pts | 21.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 16.2%±0.8 pts | 16.0% | – |
| Male | 47.9%±1.1 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 16.0%±1.3 pts | 26.8% | +2.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 11.0%±0.8 pts | 40.1% | −3.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 68.9%±1.6 pts | 21.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0%±0.5 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8%±0.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.1%±1.0 pts | 21.7% | +1.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 17.0%±1.3 pts | 35.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.0%±0.6 pts | 3.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.8%±0.8 pts | 11.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.2%±0.8 pts | 8.9% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.6%±1.1 pts | 88.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.8%±1.5 pts | 42.7% | +2.0 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.2%±0.8 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 89.5%±1.4 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.7 pts | 1.8% | – |
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 Township earn?
Half of Thornton Township's 58,792 households earn less than $58,534 a year (±$2,420), against $83,498 in Cook County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $57,535 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Thornton Township | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,534±$2,420 | $83,498 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,316±$2,845 | $120,717 | – |
| Per capita income | $28,904±$1,032 | $49,329 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.8%±1.8 pts | 13.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 31.8%±4.0 pts | 17.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 25.5%±1.3 pts | 15.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.3%±0.8 pts | 95.2% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 90.9%±1.0 pts | 90.6% | – |
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 Township?
Owners occupy 65.4% of Thornton Township's occupied homes and renters 34.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $156,800 by its owner (±$3,551). The median renter pays $1,203 a month including utilities, and 56.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Thornton Township | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $156,800±$3,551 | $324,500 | +$25,239 |
| Median gross rent | $1,203±$26 | $1,435 | −$73 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 56.5%±3.7 pts | 39.9% | +7.6 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,646±$36 | $2,270 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.4%±1.8 pts | 57.7% | +3.6 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 34.6%±1.8 pts | 42.3% | – |
| Housing units | 67,747±1,279 | 2,276,493 | −3,203 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7%±0.8 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.5%±1.0 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.1%±1.4 pts | 39.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 3.1%±0.7 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.0%±0.4 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.4%±1.0 pts | 27.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 12.4%±1.2 pts | 18.0% | – |
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 do people in Thornton Township work and get to work?
69.2% of Thornton Township's workers drive alone and 10.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 32.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.8%.
| Measure | Thornton Township | Cook County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.2%±1.1 pts | 66.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.8%±1.2 pts | 7.0% | −2.6 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 69.2%±1.8 pts | 54.8% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5%±1.4 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 7.2%±1.1 pts | 11.8% | – |
| Walked | 1.9%±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.1%±1.1 pts | 18.9% | +6.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 32.0 min±0.9 | 31.5 min | −3.4 min |
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 Township?
41 census tracts lie mostly in Thornton Township (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,665 (Tract 8269.01) to $97,500 (Tract 8278.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8262.02Cook County | 6,211 | $68,878 |
| Tract 8258.02Cook County | 6,181 | $70,696 |
| Tract 8265Cook County | 5,811 | $58,524 |
| Tract 8258.03Cook County | 5,483 | $66,051 |
| Tract 8261Cook County | 5,316 | $51,316 |
| Tract 8280Cook County | 5,254 | $70,673 |
| Tract 8264.02Cook County | 5,184 | $56,591 |
| Tract 8275Cook County | 5,130 | $73,043 |
| Tract 8282.02Cook County | 5,111 | $57,353 |
| Tract 8266Cook County | 4,798 | $43,675 |
| Tract 8268Cook County | 4,554 | $61,062 |
| Tract 8281Cook County | 4,497 | $76,034 |
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 Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Thornton Township compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Thornton Township is the 13th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 3rd-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.
Thornton Township ranks 1,127th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 3rd | 1,407 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 1,080th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 138th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,127th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,231st | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 775th | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 374th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 114th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 784th | 1,369 |
| Median age | 954th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,176th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 587th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 165th | 1,382 |
Thornton Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Thornton Township 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 Township?
3 of the 57 figures for Thornton Township 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 Township 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' school search.