Thornton is a city of 144,187 people in Colorado. Since 2000 the city has risen by half, up 61,803 people. Few US cities rank higher on income. The median age is 34.7, younger than the US median of 38.9. Density works out to 3,950 people per square mile. Home values have roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $517,500.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $103,088, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 34.7
US median: 38.9
Average education
33% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 87%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Thornton
What changed most since 1990
Population55,031 → 144,187(+162%)US over the same years: +35%
Median home value (2024 dollars)$180,965 → $517,500(+186%)US over the same years: +67%
White share79.9% → 50.2%(−29.7 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Thornton's population equals 27% of Adams County's. Its number of households without a car equals 17% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 19% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)27.6%(1,843)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)30.5%(2,037)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29%(1,934)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.8%(122)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.3%(22)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 6,669 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Thornton, decade by decade
Thornton population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
55,031
$81,953
$180,965
14.1%
41.7
2000
82,384
$99,180
$277,074
19.9%
53.6
2010
118,772
$94,339
$308,142
25.9%
67.3
2020
141,867
$97,850
$423,002
28.3%
75.5
2024
144,187
$103,088
$517,500
32.8%
75.1
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
