Thornton, Wisconsin Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 32, 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 Wisconsin, within Shawano County. The total population is 32. It ranks as the 806th most populous out of 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thornton is 44.5 years. This is 11% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Thornton is $86,250. This is 11% higher than the state median of $77,485. It is also 7% higher than the national median of $80,734. The ACS records no residents below the poverty line in Thornton. In a community this small the estimate rests on very few survey responses, so it should be read as an absence of measurement rather than a measured absence of poverty. The survey records no unemployed residents in Thornton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $215,000. Housing costs are 19% lower than the state median of $266,500. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Thornton is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 47% higher than the state average of 67.8%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Thornton is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 15.6%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (15.6% vs 8.0%).

Education

29.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% lower than the state rate of 33.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 18.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Thornton, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 808 Census-designated places in Wisconsin. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.