Thorndale is a city in both Milam and Williamson counties that lies 40 miles northeast of Austin, Texas and 12 miles west of Rockdale, Texas. The city limits has a tiny area and is only 1.0 square mile in size.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Thorndale, Texas is still growing at the rate of 9.7% every four years. The demographic statistics state that the population is primarily white at 77.4%, followed by 31.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% African American and 1.1% American Indian and Alaska Natives. Self-identifying residents of two or more races accounts for 3.8% of the population and 4.4% Asians live in the community. Families that have children under the age of 5 years are reported to be 8.6% of the population. Children under the age of 18 years old represent 29.5% of the population and retired persons over the age of 65 are at 6.5%. The median age in this city is 41.7 years old with 65% of the population being married and a population density of 1,633 per square mile of the city limits. Of all of the residents of Thorndale, 81% speak English and 16% speak Spanish. Every race is represented in the census in this small community.
The income per capita in Thorndale is $20,400, which is 27% lower than the national average of $28,051 and lower than the Texas average of $25,809. The median household income in this community is $38,939 and the unemployment rate is quite low at 3.0% with the national average being 6.0% and the state of Texas at 5.0%. These figures are indicative that the homeowners in this area earn a living that is below the average earnings in the state and the nation.
The housing market in Thorndale is stable with a median home price of only $71,600, compared to the state of Texas at $128,000 and the national average of $181,400. The average home in this community has 5.3 rooms and 2.5 persons living in it. The majority of residents of 34.4% pay only 10% to 19% of their monthly wages for a mortgage payment. These figures show that this small community has homes at a very good price for buyers.
The University of Texas at Austin is near Thorndale. It is a 40-mile commute to the southwest and students do not mind the short drive to and from classes. The households save valuable money on housing when students can commute to college.
The average test scores in Thorndale are 89%, which is higher than the state of Texas and the nation at 87% and 68% respectively. The student to teacher ratio is only 12:1 compared to the Texas average of 14:1 and the national average of 16:1. The low ratio in the three public schools in Thorndale, give students the chance to have more individual attention in the classrooms. The higher education levels after completing high school of the residents show that 26.6% complete some college, 11.9% complete an associate degree, 7.9% hold a bachelors degree, 2.2% complete a master's degree and 0.4% of the residents complete a professional degree. This city as a whole does believe in higher education levels for the children.
The employment status in Thorndale shows that 57.3% of citizens are in the labor force with 64.3% of men and 44.8% of women working full time jobs at the rate of 35 or more hours per week. The majority of males at 43.8% and females at 26.6% have annual earnings in the $25K to $40K income bracket. The majority of males at 26% work in the construction industry, while the majority of females at 33.1% are employed in the education, health and social services sector.
You can't ask for better weather than in Thorndale. The temperatures are balmy and warm year round with mild winters. The average low temperatures occur in December at 49 degrees. Temperatures warm to 54 degrees in February and rise to reach 84 degrees in August as the highest temperatures of the year. Some rainfall is seen every month in this community from 0.1 inch to 3.7 inches per month, lowering the need to water your landscaping constantly. The balmy weather beckons to residents to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.
Due to the very small size of this city, there are few activities within the city limits. The favorite among the residents is to travel fives miles north to The Apache Pass Amphitheater and Festival Grounds where many events are held every year. It hosts Christian music festivals and the Nocturnal Wonderland, which is one of the largest electronic musical festivals in the entire country. Texas trail riders visit this area each year. You can also find a historical museum in this area that is dedicated to the Apache Indians and their contributions to the city as the first native settlers.
The nearest restaurants can be found in nearby Rockdale, Texas. You can find just about any type of cuisine you want here with 27 restaurants to choose from. There is Mexican food, Soul food, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, steaks, American style and Oriental. A few fast food restaurants are to be found here such as Pizza Hut, Subway and Dairy Queen for a quick bite to eat.
Thorndale is known to be the home of the film "The Rookie" released in 2002 with Dennis Quaid and Rachel Griffiths and the stars. The filming included areas of Thorndale and other small nearby towns including Round Rock, Taylor and Thrall. The Thorndale High School baseball stadium was in the film and Emanuel Castillo of Thorndale threw the baseball when Quaid was on the mound. Other local residents appeared in the film as movie extras.
The beauty of this community is astounding with large lots surrounding the homes. The small size allows the neighbors to all get to know each other and have outdoor fun together in the balmy Texas weather. It is a prime area to purchase a home because the average home prices are much lower than the state of Texas and the national averages, making this a buyer's market. The tiny hidden gem of Thorndale may well be where you decide to settle down and raise a family in the home of your dreams.
