Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Thornton, CO Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

144,187

Median Agei

34.7

Race & Ethnicityi

White

50.2%72,383

Hispanic/Latino

37.7%54,293

Asian

5.2%7,504

Two or More

4.1%5,899

Black

2%2,923

Other

0.4%610

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.3%373

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.1%202

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

4.7%4,371

High School Diploma

21%19,710

Some College (<1 yr)

7.8%7,338

Some College (1+ yr)

13%12,148

Associate's Degree

8.7%8,136

Bachelor's Degree

22.1%20,696

Master's Degree

8.6%8,075

Professional Degree

1%915

Doctorate

1.1%1,067

HS or Higher

87.9%

BA or Higher

32.8%

Graduate+

10.7%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$517,500

Median Renti

$1,895

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

71.4%36,109

Renter-Occupied

28.6%14,457

Total Units

52,250

Homeownership

71.4%

Vacancy Rate

3.2%

Home Values

Under $50K

4%1,436

$50K–$100K

2.7%966

$100K–$150K

1.3%466

$150K–$200K

1.1%396

$200K–$300K

3.1%1,121

$300K–$500K

34.9%12,585

$500K–$1M

51.7%18,679

$1M+

1.3%460

Rent Distribution

Under $500

475

$500–$750

255

$750–$1,000

175

$1,000–$1,250

883

$1,250–$1,500

818

$1,500–$2,000

5,597

$2,000+

5,849

Year Built

2020 or later

3.8%1,995

2010–2019

14.7%7,674

2000–2009

26.2%13,665

1990–1999

19.9%10,383

1980–1989

13.6%7,093

1970–1979

13.3%6,926

1960–1969

3.8%1,992

1950–1959

4.3%2,261

1940–1949

0.2%107

1939 or earlier

0.3%154

Heating Fuel

Utility Gas

69.6%35,207

Electricity

28.1%14,191

Solar

1%508

Bottled/LP Gas

0.9%463

Other

0.2%93

No Fuel

0.1%70

Fuel Oil

0%21

Wood

0%13

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$103,088

Mean Household Incomei

$122,983

Per Capita Incomei

$43,571

Poverty Ratei

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

82,722

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

2.4%1,189

$10K–$15K

1.3%662

$15K–$20K

1.3%646

$20K–$25K

2.3%1,179

$25K–$30K

2.4%1,210

$30K–$35K

2.3%1,148

$35K–$40K

2.7%1,373

$40K–$45K

2.4%1,226

$45K–$50K

2.5%1,258

$50K–$60K

5.2%2,647

$60K–$75K

9%4,564

$75K–$100K

14.4%7,293

$100K–$125K

13.5%6,829

$125K–$150K

10%5,047

$150K–$200K

13%6,587

$200K+

15.2%7,708

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

949

Residentsi

2,221

Avg. Tenant Renti

$483/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

6 months

Programs in this community

Housing Choice Vouchers620 homes87% occupied$452/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8251 homes93% occupied$558/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $103,088/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $31K/yr

85.7%

Very low income$31K–$52K/yr

12.6%

Low income$52K–$82K/yr

1.7%

Who Receives This Housing

71.9% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

67.7% of subsidized households are minority

19.5% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

24.1% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

20,25114%

By Region

Top Countries

Mexico

10,887

India

672

China

436

Philippines

399

Guatemala

290

Canada

270

Korea

255

United Kingdom

159

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

77,686

Avg. Commutei

30.4 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

78,851

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

6,669(6.2% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

90.1%Insured

9.9%Uninsured