Ten miles north of Denver, the city of Thornton blends the urban amenities of a metropolitan area with the natural beauty of the Colorado Front Range. What was vast fields of farmland until 1953, Thornton now maintains a quieter atmosphere than its larger neighbor, all the while giving the city’s approximately 141,000 residents equal access to either a day out on the town or a peaceful retreat to nature. Highway 93 and I-25, gives commuters a straightforward drive to Denver and Boulder and back again. “It’s a really great spot for commuters, families or people just looking for convenient access,” says Stacey Schalk, Realtor with eXp Realty and longtime resident of the area. “At the same time, it’s been growing steadily for the past 15 years or so – Thornton is determined to be the next place people think of after Denver and Aurora.”
Ten miles north of Denver, the city of Thornton blends the urban amenities of a metropolitan area with the natural beauty of Colorado.
Thornton's residents have access to a peaceful retreat to nature.
Reaching Denver for work is as simple as hopping on Interstate 25.
South Thornton has culture, outdoor activities, shopping, and community events.
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Test the green at Thorncreek Golf Course
With over 140 miles of trails and 2,500 acres of greenspace, outdoor recreation is a major part of life in Thornton and attracts visitors from Denver and other surrounding communities. The Thorncreek Golf Course is a particularly popular spot, offering panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains along its 18-hole championship course. Along Holly Street, Trail Winds Park features open fields, basketball and tennis courts, pools and a skate park, while Carpenter Park is home to the annual Thorntonfest celebration. “One of the main areas where Thornton has seen growth is parks and places to get out and active – the new rec center at Trail Winds and a new indoor pickleball court not far from that,” says Schalk. “There’s even a trail that connects from Thornton all the way to downtown Denver – the South Platte River Trail – that I used to take all the time when I was living in Thornton and working downtown.”
Book a tee time at Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton.
The Rec Center at Trail Winds Park and Open Space in Thornton, CO.
Thornton residents are attracted to the concrete skatepark at Carpenter Park.
At Pelican Ponds Open Space you can ride the South Platte River Trail all the way to Denver.
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Popular place with a reasonable price
Houses in Thornton range from manufactured homes to traditional single-family dwellings, with townhouses and condominiums also available. “One of the best parts about Thornton is how relatively affordable it is compared to Denver,” says Schalk. “You can typically get more home for less, and the commute isn’t bad at all – that’s one of the main reasons the area has grown so much recently, especially residentially.” Neighborhoods such as Alta Ridge feature manufactured homes and community-exclusive amenities such as picnic areas and a clubhouse. The Country Hills neighborhood is filled with ranch style and new traditional two-story homes. Fallbrook Farms features modern-contemporary two-story homes, usually reflecting craftsman style with mixed materials and low-pitched, gabled roofs. Nearby, the Fallbrook Farms Paired Homes community has similarly themed townhouses. The median price for homes in Thornton is $539,000, and homes typically spend 37 days on the market – just below the national average of 44. “Thornton tends to make you feel like you’re part of a smaller community – a really diverse and accepting one,” says Schalk. “There’s a more neighborly sense to it.”
Alta Ridge housing mainly consists of affordable manufactured homes.
New traditional homes are common in Quimby.
Residents can find modern-contemporary houses decorated with brick and wood panel siding.
Some townhomes can be found in areas of Thornton, such as the Cherrywood Park area.
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Solid marks for Thornton schools
Both the Adams 12 Five Star Schools and 27J School Districts serve families in Thornton. “Both districts have seen student population go up in recent years, especially 27J, which used to be a more rural school district,” says Schalk. “But both the districts have handled the growth really well, and both are continuing to build new facilities and start new programs.” Notable schools include the Stargate Charter School, which earns an A-plus and is ranked as the #1 Public High School in Colorado according to Niche.
Riverdale Elementary in Thornton maintains a C-plus grade from Niche.
Shadow Ridge Middle School in Thornton is ranked #338 in Colorado Middle Schools.
Thornton High School sits on the southern end of the Five Star District.
The Stargate Charter School in Thornton is the #1 Public High School in Colorado.
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Go shopping at Larkridge Shopping Center
The Grove is the central hub of shopping and dining in Thornton and is home to Cabela’s and Burlington Coat Factory. Just down the way, the Larkridge Shopping Center has The Home Depot and Buffalo Wild Wings. Satire Brewing Company operates in Thornton, serving local brews alongside an eclectic menu in its laid-back dining room. Local favorites include Bluebird Café and Pete’s Café, both known for serving up breakfast and brunch. The broader North Denver food scene also extends into Thornton, offering a range of unique restaurants, bakeries and breweries. “Even a few years ago, a lot of those options weren’t there,” says Schalk. “It’s grown quickly, and there’s more development to come.”
Head to The Grove shopping center in Thornton for shops like Cabela’s.
Larkridge Shopping Center in the northern part of Thornton has The Home Depot and Buffalo Wild Wings.
Satire Brewing Company in Thornton serves local brews alongside an eclectic menu in its laid-back dining room.
Bluebird Cafe is one of the top rated restaurants in the South Thornton neighborhood.
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Annual bike to work day
Denver’s Regional Transportation District provides bus stops throughout Thornton that connect to various parts of the metropolitan area, while the Thornton Crossroads station provides light rail access into the city. Highway 93 and I-25 are the main ways to commute, and drivers can expect the 10-mile trek to take around 20 minutes. The Denver International Airport is just under 20 miles away. Thornton’s bike-ability has led to an annual ‘Bike to Work Day’ every June 28th.
Thornton crime numbers
Thornton’s violent and property crime rates have been holding steady over the past year, according to police statistics.
Authentic. Home. Connection. Balance. Chrissy is a Colorado native and alumni CSU Volleyball player! Playing sports her whole life has taught her to be competitive, feisty (when needed) and humble. She believes in meeting people where they are in the journey of life: listening, caring, and assisting them in moving forward with their goals and dreams. She is a people-person, resourceful, and goes above and beyond in anything she does. She has a creative mind and is solutions oriented. You'll find her to be outgoing, optimistic, authentic, and energetic! She started her real estate career in 2002 at RE/MAX. Outside of real estate, you'll find her at the nearest coffee shop, teaching heated power yoga, taking a pilates class, snowboarding in winter, paddleboarding in summer or spending time with her three teenagers Emma, Sophia, and Jacob.
Being a REALTOR® means Chrissy gets to connect with people which is what she does best! She combines her people skills, sales, and marketing background & mortgage lending experience along with strong negotiation skills to help buyers and sellers navigate their challenging but awesome real estate market in Northern Colorado!
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