Thornton, Texas Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 565, 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 Texas, within Limestone County. The total population is 565. It ranks as the 1232nd most populous out of 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thornton is 36.5 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 35.6 years. With 33.1% of the population under 18, Thornton has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community. 10.6% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Thornton is $53,750. This is 32% lower than the state median of $78,476. It is also 33% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.5%. This is 5% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. The unemployment rate is 18.0%. This is 241% higher than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $84,000. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $283,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.6x, Thornton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 74.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

Thornton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 95.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.8%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (95.0% vs 39.1%). The Black or African American population (1.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.8%) is well below the state average of 39.7%.

Education

2.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 94% lower than the state rate of 33.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Thornton, Texas 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 Texas state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 1,795 Census-designated places in Texas. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.