Thornton, California Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Thornton, California had a total population of 817, the 1117th largest community in California, with a median household income of $73,333, which is 26% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 20.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Unemployment rate of 11.4% is notably above the national average.
Thornton Quick Facts
How Thornton Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 815 | 817 | +0.2% |
| Median household income | $47,917 | $73,333 | +53.0% |
| Median home value | $455,300 | $435,400 | -4.4% |
How Thornton Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 70 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Thornton Rankings in California
Explore California Rankings
Other Cities in San Joaquin County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton | 322,326 | $79,907 | 15.5% | $440,900 |
| Tracy | 96,966 | $121,119 | 7.8% | $699,000 |
| Manteca | 89,043 | $97,055 | 9.5% | $589,900 |
| Lodi | 67,607 | $88,530 | 12.4% | $492,500 |
| Lathrop | 35,052 | $126,421 | 7.1% | $643,600 |
| Mountain House | 25,513 | $177,163 | 5.1% | $946,900 |
| Ripon | 16,201 | $133,380 | 5.4% | $704,800 |
| Garden Acres | 10,667 | $66,474 | 18.9% | $336,000 |
| Country Club | 10,161 | $81,464 | 15.4% | $382,500 |
| August | 8,825 | $53,173 | 26.9% | $296,100 |
Cities Similar to Thornton
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | 805 | N/A | $344,400 | 4.3% | 37.8% |
| Yolo | 800 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 51.5% |
| Lebec | 797 | N/A | $422,400 | 32.1% | 17.4% |
| Camanche North Shore | 824 | $78,333 | $358,600 | 3.5% | 12.3% |
| Wilseyville | 798 | $70,043 | $312,500 | 17.2% | 37.5% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 817, Thornton's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Thornton is a small community located in California, within San Joaquin County. The total population is 817. It ranks as the 1117th most populous out of 1,570 Census-designated places in California.
Age Demographics
The median age in Thornton is 36.0 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 37.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Thornton is $73,333. This is 26% lower than the state median of $99,122. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.9%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 11.4%. This is 73% higher than the state rate of 6.6%. The median home value is $435,400. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $734,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x. 60.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% higher than the state average of 55.9%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Thornton is Hispanic or Latino, making up 59.4% of the population. White (non-Hispanic) residents account for 32.6%. The Black or African American population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.2%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 15.3%.
Education
12.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 37.1%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 65.6%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Thornton, California is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against California state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,570 Census-designated places in California. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Thornton, California?
Thornton, California has a population of 817 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Thornton, CA?
The median household income in Thornton is $73,333, which is 9% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Thornton, CA?
The poverty rate in Thornton is 20.9%. This means approximately 171 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Thornton, California?
Thornton's population is 32.6% White, 2.3% Black, 59.4% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.
What is the median home value in Thornton, CA?
The median home value in Thornton is $435,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.9x.
How educated is Thornton, California?
12.1% of adults (25+) in Thornton hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.4% hold a graduate or professional degree.