1st Advantage MortgageThe median Grays Harbor County household earns $64,414, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Grays Harbor County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Grays Harbor County
- The Grays Harbor County job picture
- Renting and owning in Grays Harbor County
- Regional comparison for Grays Harbor County
- Grays Harbor County towns compared
- What a median Grays Harbor County budget can carry
- Who lives in Grays Harbor County, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in Grays Harbor County
- Four steps for Grays Harbor County borrowers
- Lender oversight for Grays Harbor County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Grays Harbor County at a glance
Grays Harbor County is home to about 77,053 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. Land area is 1,901 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 41 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Grays Harbor County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 32 Census places inside Grays Harbor County, Aberdeen leads by population with about 17,088; 9 of the 32 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Grays Harbor County
At $64,414, the typical Grays Harbor County household income is 2% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Grays Harbor County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.7% | +9.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +9.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.7% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -13.1 pts |
About 26% of households earn under $35,000, while 30% clear $100,000. 15.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 9.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.436 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Grays Harbor County median.
The Grays Harbor County job picture
The biggest employer of Grays Harbor County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by retail trade (11%). Compared with Washington, the county leans toward public administration (11% against 5%). Averaged over the five survey years, 7.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 76% drive to work alone and 17% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Grays Harbor County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.0% | -0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.3% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +3.0 pts |
| Public administration | 10.7% | +5.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.5% | +0.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Grays Harbor County
Renters in Grays Harbor County pay a median of $1,062 a month, 40% below the Washington figure of $1,760. By the Census definition, 49% of Grays Harbor County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $314,000, about 4.9 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Home costs | Grays Harbor County | Washington | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,062/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $314,000 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 11.0% | 5.5% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Grays Harbor County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Regional comparison for Grays Harbor County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (35 to 66 miles). 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Grays Harbor County; Kitsap County is highest at $104,158 and Wahkiakum County lowest at $62,653.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grays Harbor County | - | $64,414 | $1,062/mo | 73% |
| Mason County, WA | 35 mi | $83,270 | $1,285/mo | 82% |
| Pacific County, WA | 39 mi | $67,081 | $1,005/mo | 82% |
| Thurston County, WA | 49 mi | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
| Jefferson County, WA | 50 mi | $74,048 | $1,522/mo | 79% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 60 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 66 mi | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
Grays Harbor County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 32 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 76% of Grays Harbor County residents live in one of the 32. Incomes vary by place: $117,969 at the median in Malone, $39,273 in Grayland. Median rent ranges from $704 in Taholah to $3,501 in Satsop. This guide covers each of the 32 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | city | 17,088 | $52,195 | $1,049 | 10 mi |
| Hoquiam | city | 8,800 | $49,795 | $1,086 | 10 mi |
| Ocean Shores | city | 7,302 | $58,202 | $1,284 | 18 mi |
| Montesano | city | 4,183 | $67,540 | $1,195 | 13 mi |
| Elma | city | 3,483 | $78,086 | $984 | 21 mi |
| Central Park | CDP | 3,206 | $99,127 | $1,117 | 11 mi |
| Westport | city | 2,217 | $64,750 | $865 | 21 mi |
| Cosmopolis | city | 2,202 | $84,853 | n/a | 11 mi |
| McCleary | city | 2,094 | $77,813 | $1,077 | 26 mi |
| Oakville | city | 878 | $63,893 | $1,139 | 34 mi |
| Taholah | CDP | 833 | $45,114 | $704 | 26 mi |
| Brady | CDP | 832 | $108,750 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Satsop | CDP | 780 | $62,241 | $3,501 | 17 mi |
| Grayland | CDP | 708 | $39,273 | n/a | 23 mi |
What a median Grays Harbor County budget can carry
Here is the Grays Harbor County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,368 gross per month ($64,414 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,062, or 20 cents of every gross dollar
- Under a 36% cap, $1,932 total minus rent leaves $870
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Who lives in Grays Harbor County, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 7.6%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Measure | Grays Harbor County | Washington statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.6% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.4% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.3% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.0% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Grays Harbor County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.0% |
Borrowing situations common in Grays Harbor County
A few patterns in the Grays Harbor County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Grays Harbor County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Four steps for Grays Harbor County borrowers
Steps that save money for Grays Harbor County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Lender oversight for Grays Harbor County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Grays Harbor County, check the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Grays Harbor County household make?
About $64,414 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 34% below the Washington median.
How much is rent in Grays Harbor County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,062 a month; 49% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Grays Harbor County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 73% of Grays Harbor County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Grays Harbor County?
By population: Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Ocean Shores, Montesano, Elma. The county has 32 Census places in all.
Does living in Grays Harbor County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Grays Harbor County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.