Thornton, Iowa August 5, 2024, 2024
Thornton’s story
138 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2004.
- 1888Thornton is settled
ThorntonIA
A town of 391, settled in 1888.
Population
391
2025 Census estimate · −3.5% since 2020
Typical home
$157K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$67K
median
Median age
34.5
years
Jobs based here
51
A commuter town
Is Thornton a good place to live?
Only 6 of the 141 Iowa towns we compare have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Thornton. The biggest park or preserve is Ingebretson Park, at 20 acres. Thornton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
391 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Thornton: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Thornton, and how to reach them.
PowerInterstate Power and Light17.8¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterThornton Water SupplyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Thornton’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Iowa you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereCerro Gordo County AuditorCerro Gordo County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2019
ZIP code5047950479 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Thornton.
Housing
A typical Thornton home is worth about $157K
The typical Thornton home is worth about $157,000, up 3.4% in a year, 33% below the Iowa typical home. 84% of households own their home in Thornton, above both Iowa’s towns (70%) and U.S. towns (73%). The median rent in Thornton is $839 a month.
$157KZillow home value
| Thornton | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 84% | 70% | 73% |
| Median rent | $839 a month | $911 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Thornton$157K
Iowa$237K
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
With 0.3 jobs for every working resident, most of Thornton’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Thornton for work: only 3% work in town. Thornton’s average trip to work is 25 minutes, where Iowa’s towns sit at 19 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. The top destinations are Mason City (26%), Rockwell (10%) and Sheffield (10%).
3%work in town
| Thornton | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 25 minutes | 19 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $69,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Thornton3%
Mason City26%
Rockwell10%
Sheffield10%
Clear Lake4%
17 mi
median commute distance
51
jobs based in Thornton
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Thornton has snowy winters and pleasant summers
Thornton has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. Thornton’s July high is 82°F.
44″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter12–28°
Spring36–57°
Summer59–80°
Fall38–59°
Oct 1
typical first frost
May 3
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Thornton is
Thornton tracks Iowa closely on all 32 CDC measures. 22% of adults binge drink in Thornton. Among 141 Iowa towns, just 9 have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Thornton.
| Thornton | Iowa towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 38% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 76% | 78% | 79% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Iowa
0 better32 too close to call0 worse
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond
13.3 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Thornton faces a moderate natural-hazard risk, led by drought
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Thornton since 2008.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingTornadoes
1
paid flood claims since 2008
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
2.7%conserved
2.7%
conserved · 22 of 794 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ingebretson Park | — | 20 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Thornton
18pages on Thornton
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Thornton; the nearest are
North Iowa Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Mason City19.6 mi$6,653 in-state tuitionUniversity of Northern IowaUniversity or college · Public · Cedar Falls55.6 mi$9,936 in-state tuition
About 2 of every 100 Thornton residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Iowa.
A commuter town
97% of working residents leave Thornton for work
Where Thornton’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
51jobs based in Thornton
3%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Thornton
City in Iowa, USA
Thornton is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 400 at the time of the 2020 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,188 ft
- ZIP code
- 50479
- Area code
- 641
Questions about Thornton
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Thornton, IA a good place to live?
Thornton has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.