Population 307 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Thornton
Household size in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.55 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.27 | 2.58 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.20 | 2.56 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Thornton are small: just 2.20 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.8 | 39.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.3 | 40.1 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 50.1 | 40.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | −2.1 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Thornton skews older: half of its residents are older than 50.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 52.2, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.6% | 11.8% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 12.2% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Thornton: 2.9% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Thornton
Renters in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.2% | 28.9% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 21.4% | 30.8% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.3% | 31.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 14.0% | 29.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −8.2 pts | +0.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Thornton is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 14.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (50.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8% | 14.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.3% | 14.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 31.7% | 15.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.0% | 13.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −0.5 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Thornton: 35.0% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1988 | 1980 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1982 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1991 | 1983 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1993 | 1986 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +6 |
Thornton has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1993, versus 1980 nationally.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $730 | $716 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $906 | $785 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $761 | $858 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,188 | $1,091 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$458 | +$375 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Thornton costs $1,188 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Alabama overall ($1,091). Rent takes 22.7% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Thornton
Bachelor's degrees in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.8% | 23.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 30.0% | 24.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.9% | 26.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 28.6% | 29.0% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +5.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Nearly three in ten adults 25 and older in Thornton (28.6%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national share of 35.6%. That is in line with the rest of Alabama.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.1% | 82.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.8% | 84.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.2% | 86.4% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 88.7% | 89.3% |
| Change | +13.0 pts | +6.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Thornton is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Thornton
| Period | Thornton | Alabama | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.3% | 8.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.4% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.8% | 4.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.5 pts | −3.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been harder to find in Thornton than nationally: unemployment was 6.8%, against 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Thornton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton | 2.20 | 50.1 | 2.9% | 14.0% | 35.0% | 1993 | $1,188 | 28.6% | 93.1% | 6.8% |
| Walnut Hill | 2.20 | 54.5 | 2.9% | 14.2% | 38.2% | 1996 | $1,243 | 35.7% | 93.8% | 6.9% |
| Pinnell | 2.51 | 46.3 | 2.4% | 13.6% | 40.0% | 1984 | $825 | 18.3% | 93.0% | 5.4% |
| Jamesville | 2.75 | 48.7 | 8.7% | 12.2% | 17.1% | 1979 | $719 | 15.8% | 89.4% | 6.3% |
| Camp Hill | 2.35 | 45.1 | 11.8% | 18.5% | 23.7% | 1980 | $620 | 10.9% | 82.2% | 4.8% |
| East Tallassee | 2.04 | 62.8 | 9.1% | 7.4% | 53.1% | 1990 | $953 | 42.7% | 96.5% | 0.8% |
| Notasulga | 2.50 | 43.7 | 12.7% | 19.8% | 13.1% | 1982 | $745 | 12.0% | 84.0% | 8.3% |
| Reeltown | 2.50 | 48.0 | 10.1% | 5.8% | 9.8% | 1988 | $684 | 21.8% | 85.8% | 2.4% |
| Loachapoka | 3.24 | 35.2 | 15.2% | 24.2% | 6.5% | 1982 | $865 | 31.7% | 87.5% | 3.9% |
| Tallapoosa City | 2.58 | 44.2 | 8.0% | 15.0% | 20.2% | 1986 | $546 | 23.8% | 89.2% | 2.1% |
| Round Mountain | 2.51 | 50.4 | 3.7% | 17.9% | 16.0% | 1985 | $800 | 24.4% | 86.4% | 2.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Dolph, AR · East Haven, VT · East Ellsworth, WI · East Dover, VT · Dunbar, IA · Duan, NC · Driscoll, ND · Drift, KY · Douglas, OK · Dot, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Thornton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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