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Thornton, IA

City in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.

Population

514

Land area

1.2sq mi

People per sq mi

413

ZIP codes

0

Thornton and its ZIP codes

Full map

Thornton at a glance

  • Thornton is about 7.2 times as dense as Iowa as a whole.
  • The median household income is $67,031, 11% below the Iowa median of $75,059.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $115,500 (44% below Iowa) and median rent is $839 a month.

Local data for Thornton, IA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Thornton, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$67,031

Poverty rate

9.3%

Median home value

$115,500

Median rent

$839/mo

Homeownership

84.0%

Bachelor's or higher

17.2%

Median age

34.5

Average commute

25.2 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (218), Norwegian Americans (54), Irish Americans (29).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Cerro Gordo County. PPP loans are for Thornton.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.5%

Aug 2026, 0.0 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$56,649

23,463 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$80,093

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$348M

FY 2026, $8,070 per person

Cerro Gordo County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Thornton, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone70.6%
  • Carpooled16.1%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked3.1%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.6%
  • Worked from home8.6%

Average one-way commute: 25.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Thornton, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Low

Top: drought

Storm events since 1996

749

Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

80

0.4% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

83° / 7°F

36.3 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Thornton, IA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

40.4%

U.S. 33.3% +7.1 pts

Diabetes

11.2%

U.S. 12.1% -0.9 pts

Smoking

16.8%

U.S. 12.8% +4.0 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

7.2%

U.S. 11.1% -3.9 pts

Cities near Thornton

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
SwaledaleCity4.3 mi0.2
MeserveyCity4.8 mi1.5
SheffieldCity9.9 mi5.6
BurchinalCensus-designated place10 mi0.1
RockwellCity10 mi3
AlexanderCity11 mi4.3
ChapinCensus-designated place11 mi0.1
GoodellCity12 mi0.4
KlemmeCity12 mi0.5
LatimerCity13 mi2.4
BelmondCity13 mi2.8
Clear LakeCity13 mi10.8
VenturaCity13 mi1.8
CoulterCity14 mi2.5
GarnerCity15 mi2.1
RowanCity16 mi0.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Thornton, IA in?
Thornton is in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa.
What is the population of Thornton, IA?
About 514 people live in Thornton, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Thornton?
Nearby places include Swaledale (4.3 mi), Meservey (4.8 mi), Sheffield (9.9 mi), Burchinal (10 mi), Rockwell (10 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023