Thornton, Colorado
Cost of living, housing, income, commute, climate, and safety — compiled for relocators researching Thornton, CO.
MapsToIt planning snapshot
How much does it cost to live in Thornton, CO?
Thornton planning snapshot: population 146,689, housing index 147 (well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline), median home $482,200, median rent $1,810, and income near $100,985. Expect 87°F summer highs, 18°F winter lows, and about 27-minute one-way commutes. Violent-offense rates run about 272.9 per 100k (catalog avg 559.5).
Crime figures may use an older source vintage than housing and income on this page.
- Housing cost index
- 147U.S. avg 100
- Median home value
- $482,200U.S. $303,400
- Median rent
- $1,810U.S. $1,348
- Median income
- $100,985U.S. $78,538
- Unemployment
- 4.8%U.S. 4.2%
- Avg commute
- 27 minCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime
- 272.9per 100k · catalog avg 559.5
- Summer high
- 87°FCatalog avg 87°F
Key figures
Each metric shows how Thornton compares with a U.S. baseline (ACS/BLS nationals) or a MapsToIt catalog average (crime, climate, and commute). Income, housing, population, and crime are for the incorporated city (city limits), not the broader metro/MSA — unemployment is county-level (BLS LAUS).
- Population
- 146,689City limits · Census PEP 2024 estimate
As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024 - Median household income
- $100,985Incorporated place (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year29% above U.S. avgU.S. $78,538 - Housing cost index
- 147ACS home+rent vs U.S. (100 = avg)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year47% above U.S. avgU.S. 100 - Median home value
- $482,200City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year59% above U.S. avgU.S. $303,400 - Median rent
- $1,810City limits (ACS)
As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year34% above U.S. avgU.S. $1,348 - Unemployment
- 4.8%County LAUS · not city-only
As of 2026-10-19 · August 20260.6 pts above U.S. rateU.S. 4.2% - Avg commute
- 27 min8% above catalog avgCatalog avg 25 min
- Violent crime rate
- 272.9per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)51% below catalog avgCatalog avg 559.5 - Property crime rate
- 3026.7per 100k · citywide
As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback) · older data (2019)Near catalog avg (3005.3)Catalog avg 3005.3 - Summer high
- 87°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (87°F)Catalog avg 87°F
- Winter low
- 18°FAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals17.0 pts below catalog avgCatalog avg 35°F
- Annual rainfall
- 15.4 inAs of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals54% below catalog avgCatalog avg 33.2 in
- Sunny days
- 281As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normalsNear catalog avg (268)Catalog avg 268
Population trend
Thornton grew 22.9% from 119,391 in 2010 to 146,689 in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024). Playback steps monthly between annual Census PEP estimates.
Is Thornton, CO expensive compared to the U.S. average?
Thornton's housing cost index is 147 versus 100 nationally — well above the U.S. housing-cost baseline. That gap is driven mainly by ACS median home values ($482,200 vs $303,400) and rents ($1,810 vs $1,348).
- Housing cost index 147 (U.S. 100)
- Median home $482,200 vs U.S. $303,400
- Median rent $1,810 vs U.S. $1,348
How much does housing cost in Thornton, CO?
Typical ownership costs center near $482,200, while median gross rent is about $1,810 a month. Against a median household income of $100,985, rent alone is roughly 22% of income on an annualized basis.
- Median home value $482,200
- Median rent $1,810/month
- Median household income $100,985
What is the job market like in Thornton, CO?
County unemployment recently ran 4.8% versus a U.S. rate of 4.2%. Median household income in Thornton is about $100,985 (U.S. $78,538).
- Unemployment 4.8% (U.S. 4.2%)
- Median income $100,985
How long is the typical commute in Thornton, CO?
Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes. The catalog-city average commute is 25 minutes.
- 27 minutes average one-way
Is Thornton, CO safer than similar U.S. cities?
Published violent-offense rates are about 272.9 per 100k and property about 3026.7 per 100k, versus catalog averages of 559.5 and 3005.3. Citywide rates hide large neighborhood differences.
- Violent 272.9 per 100k
- Property 3026.7 per 100k
What is the climate like year-round in Thornton, CO?
Normals show summer highs near 87°F, winter lows near 18°F, about 15.4 inches of rain, and roughly 281 sunny days a year.
- Summer high 87°F
- Winter low 18°F
- 15.4 in rain · 281 sunny days
Which neighborhoods do relocators research in Thornton, CO?
Newcomers often start with Original Thornton, Eastlake, Thorncreek — tour at commute hour before signing. Neighborhood lists are curated research starting points, not rankings.
- Original Thornton
- Eastlake
- Thorncreek
High plains sun and Front Range mountain access pull outdoor-oriented movers. Winter lows around 18°F mean heating costs and snow logistics belong on the checklist. Average one-way commute time is about 27 minutes. Labor-market readings near 4.8% unemployment are neither boom nor bust by national standards. Violent-offense rates around 272.9 per 100k are moderate for a large U.S. city, with meaningful variation by neighborhood.
Thornton (pop. 146,689) sits in Colorado. With median income around $100,985 and a cost index of 147, the market reads well above the national housing-cost baseline. Ownership is a high bar — typical values near $482,200 push many newcomers toward renting first.
Newcomers often start housing searches in Original Thornton and Eastlake, then compare against Thorncreek once a commute target is clear. Figures on this page are merged from Census ACS, BLS LAUS, FBI crime figures, and NOAA Climate Normals — use them to compare Thornton with nearby alternatives before you relocate.
Neighborhoods often researched
- Original Thornton
- Eastlake
- Thorncreek
Nearby & similar cities
Continue researching with these internal links — each page is a full data profile.
Sources
- Census / ACS: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year (Thornton city, 1600000US0877290) — As of 2026-10-19 · ACS 2023 5-year
- BLS: BLS LAUS · Adams County, August 2026 — As of 2026-10-19 · August 2026
- Crime: FBI CIUS Table 8 (2019), city offenses per 100k — As of 2026-10-19 · 2019 offenses (FBI Table 8 fallback)
- Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 Monthly Normals (USW00023062 DENVER-STAPLETON) — As of 2026-10-19 · 1991–2020 NOAA normals
- Population trend: U.S. Census Bureau PEP city/town estimates (2010–2024) — As of 2026-10-19 · Census PEP 2024
Catalog refreshed 2026-10-19