The Town FilesThornton, Colorado
City in Adams County · population 141,867 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $517,500
- Household income
- $103,088
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 34.7
Thornton is a city of 141,867 people in Adams County, Colorado. The median home is worth $517,500, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). It ranks more vibrant than 90% of Colorado towns, more walkable than 89% of Colorado towns, better transit than 84% of Colorado towns.
How Thornton ranks
Percentile among Colorado towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Colorado towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Thornton is worth $517,500, above the typical Colorado town ($471,100). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $103,088, which is more affordable than 54% of Colorado towns. Median rent is $1,895 a month. 71.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Thornton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $517,500 | $471,100 |
| Median rent | $1,895 | $1,582 |
| Median household income | $103,088 | $86,246 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 5.1× |
| Homeownership | 71.4% | 72.7% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1982 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Thornton
| People | Thornton | Typical Colorado town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 16.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.8% | 37.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 14.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 15.3% |
| Average commute | 30.4 min | 24.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.5% | 92.9% |
Weather in Thornton
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 19.0°F. About 14.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.8 inches of snow (typical Colorado town: 47.4 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thornton since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Colorado town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 5, 1988 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 29, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 239 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 30, 2024.
Severe weather in Adams County since 1996
Adams County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 28, 2020 | Biological | DR-4498: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3436: Covid-19 |
| July 16, 2015 | Flood | DR-4229: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 14, 2013 | Flood | DR-4145: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 12, 2013 | Flood | EM-3365: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Adams County
Adams County had 249,299 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,817 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Thornton itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Thornton
39 public schools with 22,047 students, about 18.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale Ridge High School | 9-12 | 1,636 | 21.2 |
| Stargate Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 1,572 | 19.7 |
| Thornton High School | 9-12 | 1,416 | 17.1 |
| Rocky Top Middle School | 6-8 | 1,060 | 18.9 |
| Rodger Quist Middle School | 6-8 | 844 | 18.3 |
| York International | K-12 | 767 | 19.2 |
| Century Middle School | 6-8 | 759 | 17.3 |
| STEM Launch | K-8 | 748 | 15.6 |
| Thornton Middle School | 6-8 | 719 | 16.7 |
| West Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 715 | 17.0 |
| Shadow Ridge Middle School | 6-8 | 641 | 17.3 |
| Discovery Magnet School | K-8 | 623 | 19.5 |
Towns near Thornton
- Northglenn, CO2.2 mi · 38,131 people · home $462,100
- Federal Heights, CO5.5 mi · 14,382 people · home $95,300
- Todd Creek, CO5.6 mi · 5,028 people · home $897,200
- Derby, CO5.7 mi · 8,407 people · home $353,000
- Welby, CO5.7 mi · 15,553 people · home $385,000
- Broomfield, CO6.2 mi · 74,112 people · home $664,500
- Sherrelwood, CO6.5 mi · 19,228 people · home $432,200
- Shaw Heights, CO6.8 mi · 5,185 people · home $482,800
Thornton questions
Is Thornton, Colorado a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Thornton scores better for retirees than 5% of Colorado towns and quieter than 6%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Thornton?
The median owner-occupied home in Thornton is valued at $517,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $103,088, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,895 a month.
What is the weather like in Thornton?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 19.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.5 inches of precipitation a year and 44.8 inches of snow.
Does Thornton get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Thornton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 5, 1988. The typical Colorado town has had 11.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)