Thornton, IA

Full City Profile · Iowa · Franklin County County

4.0 /5.0
A Great
534 Population 431/sq mi density
$66,979 Median Income $33,158 per capita
$99,000 Home Value $161,949 Zillow
$775 Median Rent 21.9% income on rent
46°F Avg Temperature
A
Overall
4.0 / 5.0
Strong
A
Economy
4.3 / 5.0
$66,979 median income, 2.5% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$99,000 home value, $775/mo rent
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
19.9% bachelor's degree or higher

Thornton, IA

At a Glance

Median Income
$66,979
11% below
$33,158 per capita
Home Value
$99,000
65% below
Zillow: $161,949
Median Rent
$775/mo
33% below
21.9% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
19.9%
41% below
95.2% high school+
Unemployment
2.5%
31% below
3.5% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.8%
27% above
17.6% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
46°F

How Thornton Compares to the U.S. Average

Each bar shows Thornton's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)

Income
89%
Home Value
35%
Rent
67%
Poverty
28%
Bachelor's
59%
Unemployment
69%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Thornton a Good Place to Live?

A
4.0 / 5.0 - Great
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Thornton residents earn a median household income of $66,979 , which is 11% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $33,158. The unemployment rate stands at 2.5% (31% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 3.5% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 364 business establishments, including 15 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Thornton is $99,000 , 65% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $161,949. Median rent is $775/month, with 21.9% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1951.

Education

19.9% of adults in Thornton hold a bachelor's degree or higher (41% below the national average). 95.2% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.4/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Thornton has an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 16°F in January while summers reach 72°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 36.2 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population534
Median Age34.3 yrs
Density431/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born0.6%
Veterans3.6%

Economy

A
Median Income$66,979
Per Capita$33,158
Unemployment2.5%
Poverty3.5%
County GDP$790M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,024

Housing

A+
Home Value$99,000
Rent$775
Ownership86.4%
Zillow$161,949
Housing Units230
Rent Burden21.9%

Health

Obesity40.8%
Diabetes9.6%
Smoking17.6%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death9,806/100K

Climate

Avg Temp46°F
Rain36.2 in/yr
Elevation1,191 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+19.9%
High School+95.2%
Graduate+2.4%
School Score5.4/10

Community

2024 VoteR 70% / D 29%
Commute24 min
Broadband94.5%
Internet Speed63 Mbps
EV Stations4
Libraries4

Did You Know?

The median home in Thornton was built in 1951.
The nearest airport is Northeast Iowa Regional (40 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.421 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
9.7% of the population has a disability.