At a Glance
Median Income
$54,063
$10,875 per capita
Home Value
$122,300
Zillow: $163,205
Median Rent
$940/mo
40.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
5.2%
66.2% high school+
Unemployment
13.1%
12.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
42.7%
17.9% smoking rate
How Thomson Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Thomson's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Thomson a Good Place to Live?
B
3.0 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Thomson residents earn a median household income of $54,063 , which is 28% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $10,875. The unemployment rate stands at 13.1% (264% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,498 business establishments, including 117 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Thomson is $122,300 , 57% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $163,205. Median rent is $940/month, with 40.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1959.
Education
5.2% of adults in Thomson hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(85% below the national average).
66.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Thomson has an average annual temperature of 50°F (10°C).
Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 75°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 34.3 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population1,526
Median Age39.1 yrs
Density687/mi²
Male / Female85% / 15%
Foreign Born2.4%
Veterans4.6%
Economy
C+
Median Income$54,063
Per Capita$10,875
Unemployment13.1%
Poverty12.2%
County GDP$2,951M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,014
Housing
A+
Home Value$122,300
Rent$940
Ownership68.6%
Zillow$163,205
Housing Units258
Rent Burden40.4%
Health
Obesity42.7%
Diabetes12.8%
Smoking17.9%
Heart Disease6.6%
Premature Death8,790/100K
Climate
Avg Temp50°F
Rain34.3 in/yr
Elevation605 ft
Education
F
Bachelor's+5.2%
High School+66.2%
Graduate+2.6%
School Score6.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 59% / D 40%
Commute21 min
Broadband91.0%
Internet Speed96 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries7
Did You Know?
The median home in Thomson was built in 1959.
The nearest airport is Quad Cities International (42 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.432 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
13.5% of the population has a disability.
There are 117 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 5 fatal vehicle crashes.