Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY-SA 3.0Within Colorado, Thornton is healthier than 39% of graded towns
Thornton differs from Colorado on 9 of 26 measures CDC estimates: 4 better, 5 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Thornton. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Thornton
Colorado sets a high bar
Thornton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, but only 39% of the 159 Colorado towns we grade. Health Grade ↓
1 in 7 working-age adults in Thornton has no health insurance
15.2% of adults 18–64 have no health insurance, vs 11.1% across Colorado. Checkups ↓
More Thornton adults get no exercise
1 in 5 adults get no exercise outside work (20.8%), vs 17.7% across Colorado. There are 38 miles of trails across 82 parks and preserves in town, a place to start. Habits ↓
Obesity runs high in Thornton
1 in 3 adults have obesity (31.8%), vs 26.1% across Colorado. Conditions ↓
Health varies a lot right around Thornton
Grades next door run from Broomfield (A+) to Federal Heights (C−). Thornton is an A−. Around town ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Colorado figure falls outside Thornton’s likely range; at the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
What’s behind Thornton’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Thornton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns, #98 of 159 in Colorado. All seven estimates beat the typical U.S. town. The strongest is diabetes (fewer adults with diabetes than 92% of towns); the weakest is mental distress, still better than 51%.
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Thornton’s median household income is $103,088; among the 8,114 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($77K–$129K), it’s healthier than 69%, about where its income would put it.
At 147,766 residents, Thornton is graded like any town, from one citywide estimate; its rank among the 395 U.S. cities over 100,000 is the fairer comparison.
Keeping up with care
Share of Thornton adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Colorado.
Everyday habits, side by side with Colorado
Share of adults, with the Colorado figure marked.
38 miles of trails across 82 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Thornton adults…
Thornton runs below CO on 4 of 12 conditions and above it on 1. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 11% of Thornton residents are 65 or older, vs 16% across Colorado. Heart disease, arthritis and stroke run low partly because the town is young.
Thornton and the towns around it
Thornton’s Health Grade ranks 4th of 9 graded towns around it.
Nearby towns are shaded from CDC’s estimates for their ZIP codes, or CDC’s own figure for cities and villages.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thornton | A− | 31.8% | 8.8% | 12.6% | CDC place |
| Northglenn | B+ | 33% | 9.5% | 13.7% | CDC place |
| Todd Creek | A+ | 29.5% | 8.6% | 9.9% | CDC place |
| Welby | C+ | 35.8% | 10.9% | 15.5% | CDC place |
| Commerce City | B | 34.6% | 9.7% | 14.4% | CDC place |
| Sherrelwood | B | 34.3% | 10.7% | 13.5% | CDC place |
| Broomfield | A+ | 22.5% | 6.9% | 8.9% | CDC place |
| Federal Heights | C− | 37.3% | 12.8% | 18% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Care in and near Thornton
1 hospital and 2 community health centers in Thornton, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Thornton; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Thornton adults are doing
About the same as Colorado on each measure.
A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Thornton adults live with a disability (Colorado 27.1%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Thornton
Share of adults, 33 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 26 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Thornton is better than Colorado on 4 and worse on 5; on the rest, the Colorado figure falls inside Thornton’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Thornton | CO | U.S. | vs CO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 17.1%15.4–19 | 15.5% | 19.4% | About the same |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 11.8%10.7–13.2 | 11.9% | 13% | About the same |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 17%15.3–18.8 | 16% | 15.9% | About the same |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 31.8%27.9–36.3 | 26.1% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 8.8%7.8–10 | 8.6% | 12% | About the same |
| High blood pressure | 26%23.6–28.8 | 27% | 34.4% | About the same |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 30.6%27.8–33.7 | 31.5% | 37.1% | About the same |
| Arthritis | 19.6%17.7–21.8 | 22.9% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 11.1%10–12.4 | 10.9% | 9.9% | About the same |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 6.3%5.8–7 | 7.8% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 4.3%3.9–4.8 | 5.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.8%4.3–5.3 | 5.3% | 6.3% | About the same |
| Stroke | 2.4%2.3–2.6 | 2.7% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 10.1%8.3–12.2 | 9.2% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 12.6%11.1–14.3 | 10.9% | 11.8% | Worse |
| No exercise outside work | 20.8%18.3–23.8 | 17.7% | 24.7% | Worse |
| Binge drinking | 17.4%15–20.1 | 19% | 15.4% | About the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 32.9%29.3–36.8 | 30.7% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 15.2%13.6–17 | 11.1% | 11% | Worse |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.4%67.2–73.6 | 71.4% | 77.4% | About the same |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 61.5%58.5–64.4 | 64.6% | 63.2% | Worse |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 84%82.3–85.7 | 85.2% | 87.1% | About the same |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 66.3%63–69.6 | 69.5% | 76.5% | About the same |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 58.6%54.6–62.4 | 62.4% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 68%61.3–74.2 | 71.6% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 21.1%18.6–23.8 | 22.7% | 20.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 27.5%24.8–30.6 | 27.1% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 10.1%9–11.4 | 10.4% | 13.6% | About the same |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 15%13.6–16.6 | 13.9% | 13.9% | About the same |
| Hearing difficulty | 5.5%5–6.2 | 6.4% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.7%4.3–5.1 | 4.2% | 5.4% | Higher |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 7%6.4–7.8 | 6.7% | 7.9% | About the same |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 3%2.8–3.3 | 2.9% | 3.8% | About the same |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the Colorado figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Thornton
Is Thornton a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Thornton is healthier than 79% of U.S. towns: A− for health, #98 of 159 in Colorado. Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes it’s healthier than 69%. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Thornton?
CDC estimates 31.8% of adults have obesity, likely between 27.9% and 36.3%, against 26.1% across Colorado and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Thornton?
Centura Health-St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster, 3.6 miles in a straight line from Thornton’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 5 of 5 stars.
How many people in Thornton have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 15.2% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 13.6–17%), against 11.1% across Colorado.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Thornton more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Thornton.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Colorado figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.