Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Thornton, Colorado
A $482,000 home here costs
$3,606per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $154,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $2,649. The real number is $957 higher every month, 36% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Adams County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Thornton against Adams County and Colorado
| Measure | Thornton | Adams County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $482,200 | $458,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,786 | $2,770 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.578% | 0.604% |
| Median gross rent | $1,810 | $1,713 |
| Population | 142,878 | 524,408 |
Thornton extends across 2 counties. Figures here use Adams County, where most of its housing sits.
The weather behind that power bill
Thornton sits in Adams County, which averages a high of 89.9°F in its hottest month and a low of 18.4°F in its coldest, with 14.48" of precipitation a year and 43% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 850 cooling and 5,862 heating degree days, which is what sets the $116 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Adams County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Adams County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Thornton averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Thornton every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Thornton I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Thornton?
A $482,000 home in Thornton, Colorado costs approximately $3,606 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $2,649 principal and interest, $232 property tax, $140 homeowners insurance, $184 utilities and $402 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Thornton?
Thornton has an effective property tax rate of 0.578%, based on a median home value of $482,200 and median real estate taxes of $2,786. That is lower than the Adams County average of 0.604%.
What is the average home price in Thornton?
The median owner-occupied home value in Thornton, Colorado is $482,200, against $458,400 across Adams County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Thornton?
Median gross rent in Thornton is $1,810 a month, against $3,606 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Thornton?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Thornton, Colorado at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $154,500 a year. That covers the full $3,606 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Thornton, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Colorado.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.