Population 5,334 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Thornton Park
Household size in Thornton Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.26 | 4.54 | 3.14 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 4.71 | 4.61 | 3.20 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 4.15 | 4.50 | 3.16 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.82 | 4.01 | 3.01 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.44 | −0.53 | −0.13 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Thornton Park are large by national standards, averaging 3.82 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Still, the typical household here is smaller than in Santa Ana as a whole, where it has 4.01 people. Household size has dropped from 4.26 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 29.5 | 29.5 | 35.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 31.7 | 30.5 | 36.7 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 34.6 | 32.4 | 38.0 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.6 | 35.2 | 39.5 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.2 | +5.7 | +4.0 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.6, Thornton Park is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young families with children. That is in line with the rest of Santa Ana. The median age has climbed from 29.5 in 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.0% | 19.9% | 14.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.3% | 19.4% | 14.1% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.7% | 17.0% | 12.5% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 15.6% | 12.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −15.2 pts | −4.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Thornton Park than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 15.2 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Thornton Park has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Santa Ana neighborhoods.
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 Park
Renters in Thornton Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9% | 50.2% | 48.8% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 44.0% | 54.1% | 50.8% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.5% | 53.7% | 51.4% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 42.2% | 55.1% | 51.6% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +4.8 pts | +2.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Just over four in ten households in Thornton Park rent their homes (42.2%), above the national share of 34.8%. Even so, renters make up a smaller share here than in Santa Ana overall (55.1%). Among homeowners, 30.7% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 5.6% | 7.0% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 4.4% | 6.7% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.7% | 4.2% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 4.3% | 6.7% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.3 pts | −1.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 5.0% of homes in Thornton Park are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. The picture is much the same across Santa Ana. Vacancy has risen 2.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1967 | 1965 | 1965 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1966 | 1966 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1973 | 1965 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1970 | 1967 | 1969 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +2 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Thornton Park is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1970, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The picture is much the same across Santa Ana. Compared with other Santa Ana neighborhoods, though, Thornton Park has newer homes than most.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,259 | $1,317 | $1,328 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,588 | $1,378 | $1,415 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,728 | $1,662 | $1,755 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,963 | $2,154 | $2,279 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$704 | +$837 | +$951 | +$931 | +$606 |
Rent in Thornton Park runs $1,963 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Locally, though, rents here are lower than in Santa Ana overall ($2,154). Rent has climbed $704 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 27.6% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Park
Bachelor's degrees in Thornton Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.6% | 11.8% | 29.7% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 11.6% | 30.7% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 14.4% | 33.7% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.0% | 17.4% | 37.6% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | +5.6 pts | +7.9 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Thornton Park: 18.0% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Santa Ana as a whole looks much the same. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has edged up 1.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 63.8% | 50.7% | 76.7% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 69.9% | 53.4% | 77.7% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 66.8% | 58.7% | 80.0% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 66.5% | 66.4% | 82.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | +15.8 pts | +5.4 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
About a third of adults in Thornton Park never finished high school, well above the national share: only 66.5% have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3% nationally. That is in line with the rest of Santa Ana. The share with a diploma is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Park
| Period | Thornton Park | Santa Ana | Los Angeles area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 9.2% | 8.5% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.8% | 9.9% | 10.6% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.3% | 4.8% | 6.7% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.4 pts | −4.4 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Thornton Park has been strong: just 2.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Few Santa Ana neighborhoods have lower unemployment: only two of 32. Unemployment is down 4.4 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Park compared with nearby neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton Park | 3.82 | 35.6 | 9.7% | 42.2% | 5.0% | 1970 | $1,963 | 18.0% | 66.5% | 2.3% |
| Mid City-Santa Ana | 5.22 | 34.4 | 25.2% | 37.4% | 3.0% | 1956 | $1,871 | 11.6% | 54.2% | 2.5% |
| Central City Santa Ana | 5.33 | 34.2 | 16.9% | 30.8% | 2.3% | 1957 | $2,574 | 12.8% | 53.6% | 4.8% |
| New Horizons | 4.62 | 33.8 | 13.3% | 42.7% | 2.3% | 1960 | $2,184 | 10.5% | 57.3% | 5.4% |
| Pico-Lowell | 4.74 | 33.6 | 15.1% | 62.7% | 1.9% | 1956 | $1,830 | 7.0% | 51.8% | 7.0% |
| Townsend-Raitt | 4.77 | 30.2 | 29.1% | 77.7% | 2.9% | 1967 | $2,174 | 7.7% | 49.1% | 2.5% |
| Wilshire Square | 3.86 | 35.6 | 10.2% | 37.4% | 2.0% | 1938 | $2,002 | 28.4% | 71.2% | 1.7% |
| Memorial Park | 4.88 | 35.3 | 20.5% | 33.6% | 3.2% | 1953 | $2,385 | 7.7% | 52.1% | 5.0% |
| Henninger Park | 3.72 | 34.7 | 18.1% | 70.0% | 4.6% | 1961 | $1,707 | 7.3% | 63.0% | 5.0% |
| Valley Adams | 4.75 | 33.1 | 18.3% | 43.6% | 2.1% | 1962 | $2,457 | 13.4% | 68.8% | 5.1% |
| Windsor Village | 6.12 | 37.9 | 8.1% | 35.0% | 3.8% | 1964 | $3,170 | 16.0% | 65.2% | 2.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Neighborhoods with similar populations: Jenkins, Newport News, VA · Adair Park, Atlanta, GA · Menlo Park, Tucson, AZ · Wildwood, Charlotte, NC · Meador Park, Springfield, MO · Willow Meadows-Willowbend Area, Houston, TX · Windsor Square, Glendale, AZ · Manitocannon Hill, Spokane, WA · Lost Lake, Clermont, FL · Legacy Place, Alafaya, FL
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 Park. 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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