What is the median household income in Thornton, IL?

Name: Income and affordability in Thornton, IL, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The median household income in Thornton, IL is $59,647 (±$13,707) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Paying the median gross rent of $1,107 a month would take about $44,300 a year at the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of income on rent.

In Thornton, the median household income went from $65,081 in 2015–2019 to $59,647 in 2020–2024 (−8.3%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it fell after inflation as well.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Median household income: $59,647 (±$13,707)
Median renter income: $21,042 (±$13,163)
Income to afford median rent: about $44,300

Income in Thornton against Cook County, its state and the nation

Income, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Thornton	Cook County	Illinois	United States
Median household income	$59,647 (±$13,707)	$83,498 (±$630)	$83,390 (±$362)	$80,734
Median renter household income	$21,042 (±$13,163)	$55,388 (±$886)	$50,420 (±$471)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$73,125 (±$16,312)	$108,804 (±$833)	$103,505 (±$377)	$100,009
Median gross rent	$1,107 (±$95)	$1,435 (±$7)	$1,274 (±$5)	$1,413

In Thornton, median household income is lower than in Cook County ($83,498).

It is also lower than in Illinois ($83,390).

It is lower than the national figure ($80,734).

In Cook County, Thornton ranks 128 of 148 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest median household income.

Statewide, it ranks 1981 of 2,652.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How much you need to earn to rent in Thornton

Many landlords and housing programs use 30% of gross income as the most a household should spend on rent.

At that guideline, the median gross rent of $1,107 a month ($13,284 a year) needs an income of about $44,300 a year.

The median renting household in Thornton earns $21,042 a year, less than that.

This is arithmetic on the published medians, not a rule any landlord must follow; screening criteria vary and some places limit how income may be weighed.

Income against housing costs since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Median household income	$65,081 (±$11,222)	$59,647 (±$13,707)	−8.3%	Down after inflation
Median gross rent	$964 (±$112)	$1,107 (±$95)	+14.8%	No measurable change after inflation
Median home value	$106,100 (±$7,539)	$155,100 (±$9,800)	+46.2%	Up after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Median household income in places near Thornton

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Thornton
Place	Distance	Median household income	Compared with this place
Thornton	—	$59,647 (±$13,707)	—
East Hazel Crest	1.6 mi	$54,950 (±$9,924)	Not measurably different
South Holland	1.9 mi	$85,280 (±$5,757)	Higher
Thornton Township	2.1 mi	$58,534 (±$2,420)	Not measurably different
Glenwood	2.3 mi	$77,391 (±$18,976)	Not measurably different
Homewood	2.4 mi	$100,139 (±$10,332)	Higher
Phoenix	2.7 mi	$30,288 (±$12,916)	Lower
Harvey	2.9 mi	$42,429 (±$5,339)	Lower
Hazel Crest	3.6 mi	$68,393 (±$16,617)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Phoenix, IL ($30,288), Harvey, IL ($42,429).

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: South Holland, IL ($85,280), Homewood, IL ($100,139).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Median household income across Cook County, place by place

Rank	Place	Median household income
122	Rosemont	$63,517 (±$11,163)
123	Hodgkins	$62,417 (±$31,767)
124	McCook	$62,375 (±$20,412)
125	Summit	$61,863 (±$8,950)
126	Hometown	$61,101 (±$9,619)
127	Park Forest	$61,072 (±$3,921)
128	Thornton	$59,647 (±$13,707)
129	Blue Island	$59,489 (±$8,134)
130	South Chicago Heights	$58,691 (±$10,880)
131	Thornton Township	$58,534 (±$2,420)
132	Dolton	$57,887 (±$5,078)
133	Burnham	$57,790 (±$11,032)
134	Markham	$57,302 (±$12,364)

Showing 13 of 148 places in Cook County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Thornton

What is the median household income in Thornton?

The median household income in Thornton is $59,647 (±$13,707) a year (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

How much do you need to make to afford rent in Thornton?

About $44,300 a year, if rent is to stay at or below 30% of income at the median gross rent of $1,107 a month.

Have incomes in Thornton kept up with inflation?

In Thornton, the median household income went from $65,081 in 2015–2019 to $59,647 in 2020–2024 (−8.3%).

Prices (CPI-U) rose 22.7% over the same years, so it fell after inflation as well.

What do renters earn in Thornton?

The median renting household in Thornton, IL earns $21,042 (±$13,163) a year.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Thornton village, Illinois (place:75185, in state:17).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are B19013_001E, B19013_001M, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B25077_001E, B25077_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP03_0062E, DP03_0062M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M, DP04_0134E, DP04_0134M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.