Thornton, Colorado Income Statistics
Updated
Thornton Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Thornton Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Thornton | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $99,024 | $95,803 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,237 | $68,113 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.7% | 5.4% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 13.6% | 18.1% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 13.4% | 17.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Thornton is about 3% higher than in Colorado. Income has been growing slower in Thornton (4.7%/yr) than in Colorado (5.4%/yr).
About 14% of adults in Thornton earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Colorado average of 18%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Thornton, Colorado grew by 56.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $99,024 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.7% per year.
Thornton has stayed well above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never fallen below it. It came closest in 2013, at 19% higher. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Income Distribution in Thornton
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 23,325 households (49.4% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 12.5% of households in Thornton had an income under $35,000 and 26.1% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Thornton has a larger share of households earning $100,000 to $149,999 (23.3% vs 17.4%) and a smaller share earning $15,000 to $24,999 (3.5% vs 6.4%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 1,219 | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 718 | 1.5% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 1,668 | 3.5% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 2,287 | 4.8% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 3,580 | 7.6% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 7,425 | 15.7% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 6,974 | 14.8% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 11,001 | 23.3% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 5,995 | 12.7% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 6,329 | 13.4% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 47,195 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 14,491 residents (13.6% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 15.4% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 11.8% of Thornton residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 23.3% had some income but less than $25,000, and 23.5% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Thornton has a larger share of residents earning $50,000 to $74,999 (17.9% vs 14.3%) and a smaller share earning $1 to $9,999 (9.1% vs 11.2%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 12,585 | 11.8% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 9,768 | 9.1% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 5,665 | 5.3% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 9,471 | 8.9% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 9,367 | 8.8% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 15,702 | 14.7% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 19,154 | 17.9% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10,583 | 9.9% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 14,491 | 13.6% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 106,786 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 11.8% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Thornton
| Metric | Thornton | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.513 | 0.524 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $69,983 | $78,863 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $58,362 | $64,818 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 16.6% | 17.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Thornton, it is 0.513, lower than Colorado's 0.524, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 20% more than women's income in Thornton, Colorado. Over a 35-year career, a 20% wage gap accumulates to roughly $406,735 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Thornton, Colorado has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,831 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Thornton | Colorado Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.6% | 21.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 28 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 3,271 people are unemployed in Thornton, Colorado.
The average commute time in Thornton is 28 minutes, longer than the 22 minutes in Colorado.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Thornton, Colorado has fallen from 7.3% to 4.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.1% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.4% in 2019.
Thornton has stayed well below the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never risen above it. It came closest in 2023, at 1.0 point lower. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Thornton, CO Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Thornton, CO compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton, CO | 134,665 | $99,024 #1/2 | 4.7%/yr #2/2 | 4.2% #2/2 | 0.513 #2/2 |
| Northglenn, CO | 36,757 | $84,054 | 4.9%/yr | 4.0% | 0.503 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Thornton, Colorado has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Colorado, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Thornton, Colorado.
How Rich Is Thornton, Colorado?
Thornton has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $99,024, about 3% higher than the Colorado average of $95,803.
How has median household income changed in Thornton, Colorado?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Thornton, Colorado rose 56%, from $63,299 to $99,024. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Colorado as a whole: +56% against +70%.
What was the median household income in Thornton in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Thornton, Colorado was $96,625, up 6% from $91,398 in 2022. The Colorado median that year was $93,071.
What was the median household income in Thornton in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Thornton, Colorado was $79,543. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $99,024.
What is the Gini coefficient in Thornton, Colorado?
The Gini coefficient in Thornton is 0.513. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Thornton, Colorado?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Thornton, Colorado has narrowed from about 20% to 17% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 15% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,831 since 2009.
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