Best Life Index › States › Colorado › Cities › Thornton

Colorado city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Thornton?

What it costs to live in Thornton, and how it compares with other Colorado cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

46

25th best value in Colorado

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Colorado cities.

Overall livability

37

38th overall in Colorado

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Thornton is home to about 140,538 people. A typical home runs $376,900 and a household earns around $86,800, a price-to-income ratio of 4.3. Among Colorado's largest cities, it ranks 25th for value and 38th overall.

Thornton at a glance

Median home price

$376,900

22nd in CO of 48

Median rent

$1,608/mo

Median household income

$86,800

Home price to income

4.3x

Unemployment

4.7%

31st in CO of 48

School rating

8/10

19th in CO of 48

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in CO of 48

Walk score

16/100

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‹ See all top Colorado cities ranked  ยท  Colorado state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Colorado only. Updated 2026.