What are the schools like in Thornton, CA?

Thornton is served primarily by New Hope Elementary. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.9:1.

What is the median household income in Thornton?

The median household income in Thornton, CA is $43,839 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.9%.

What is the weather like in Thornton, CA?

Thornton has an average high temperature of 56.7°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 18.4 inches.

Thornton, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Thornton, CA affordable or expensive?

Thornton's cost of living index is 107, where 100 represents the national average. This means Thornton is 7% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $409,100 and the median rent is $842 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Thornton, CA?

Thornton has a violent crime rate of 701.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1911.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Thornton, CA a Good Place to Live?

Thornton is a small town of 873 in California, with a median household income of $43,839 and a 7.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is 7% above the national average.

Strengths: Thornton's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Thornton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Thornton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 107.4

Thornton's overall cost of living index is 107.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Thornton costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.

Metric	Thornton, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$409,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$842	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$43,839	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Thornton's violent crime rate is 701.3 per 100,000 residents — 85% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

701.3 /100k

Property Crime

1911.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Thornton is served primarily by New Hope Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Thornton, CA	National Avg
School District	New Hope Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	4.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	63.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Thornton sees average highs of 56.7°F in January and 92.4°F in July, with 18.4 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Thornton, CA
Average High — January	56.7°F
Average High — July	92.4°F
Annual Precipitation	18.4"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Thornton, CA	National Avg
Population	873	—
Median Age	29.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	33.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	36.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	4.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	35.5%	18.9%
Asian	7.3%	6.3%
Under 18	32.0%	22.2%
65 and over	8.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Walnut Grove, CA 6 mi Galt, CA 7 mi Woodbridge, CA 8 mi Terminous, CA 9 mi Collierville, CA 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Thornton

Thornton, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

95686

Thornton vs Other Cities

Thornton, CA vs Walnut Grove, CA Thornton, CA vs Galt, CA Thornton, CA vs Woodbridge, CA Thornton, CA vs Terminous, CA Thornton, CA vs Collierville, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Thornton, CA affordable or expensive?

Thornton's cost of living index is 107, where 100 is the national average. That puts Thornton roughly 7% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $409,100 and median rent is $842/month.

What is the crime rate in Thornton, CA?

Thornton's violent crime rate is 701.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1911.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Thornton?

Public schools in Thornton are operated by New Hope Elementary. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. 4.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Thornton, CA a good place to live?

Thornton, CA has a population of 873, a median household income of $43,839, and an unemployment rate of 7.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Thornton?

Thornton averages 56.7°F in January and 92.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 18.4 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Thornton?

Thornton, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 95686.

What is the population of Thornton?

The population of Thornton, California is 873 with a median age of 29.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Thornton?

Key numbers for living in Thornton: cost of living index 107 (100 = US average), median home $409,100, median household income $43,839, crime index 147 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thornton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.