1st Advantage Mortgage36% of Lewis County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $74,796 (ACS 2020-24). 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
- First look: Lewis County, WA
- Lewis County industries and commutes
- The Lewis County housing market in figures
- Lewis County income bands
- The communities that make up Lewis County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Lewis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Lewis County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Lewis County data as a borrower
- Washington lender licensing
- Four steps for Lewis County borrowers
- Other Washington guides
- Frequently asked questions
First look: Lewis County, WA
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Lewis County's population at 85,154; only 15 of Washington's 39 county-level areas are larger. Lewis County spans 2,403 square miles; with 85,154 people, that is 35.4 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Centralia (18,830 people) heads the county's list of 13 Census places, 9 incorporated and 4 census-designated.
Lewis County industries and commutes
Education and health care (22%), retail trade (12%) and manufacturing (9%) lead Lewis County's job mix. Compared with Washington, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 2%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lewis County averages 5.3% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 20%; under 15 minutes: 29%. Only 4.6% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Lewis County workers | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | +0.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | +1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -6.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.9% | +2.8 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
The Lewis County housing market in figures
$1,097 a month is the median gross rent in Lewis County, 38% below the state. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 50% of renter households here. Lewis County homes are worth $385,800 at the median, a 5.2-to-1 ratio to income. In Lewis County, 76% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them.
| Lewis County | Washington | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,097/mo | $1,760/mo | 38% lower |
| Median home value | $385,800 | $564,600 | 32% lower |
| Owners | 76% | 64% | +12.0 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 50% | +0.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | +1.9 pts |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Lewis County income bands
$74,796 is the median household income for Lewis County, set against $98,141 for Washington. In the state ranking that is 19th of 39.
| Band | Lewis County | Compared with Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.3% | +7.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.8% | +6.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.1% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -10.8 pts |
On the low end, 23% of Lewis County households report under $35,000; at the top, 36% report $100,000-plus. Lewis County counts about 10,406 residents below the poverty line, 12.2% of the population. Lewis County scores 0.424 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lewis County median.
The communities that make up Lewis County
Places, by size: the top 13 of 13. Roughly 56% of Lewis County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Napavine ($104,148) and Toledo ($47,292) mark the top and bottom of Lewis County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $840 in Mossyrock to $1,649 in Napavine. Centralia and every other Lewis County community use this county guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | city | 18,830 | $56,219 | $1,084 | 30 mi |
| Chehalis | city | 7,587 | $73,702 | $1,102 | 29 mi |
| Napavine | city | 2,158 | $104,148 | $1,649 | 25 mi |
| Winlock | city | 2,140 | $80,451 | $1,119 | 26 mi |
| Fords Prairie | CDP | 1,823 | $55,608 | $1,161 | 32 mi |
| Morton | city | 1,206 | $57,813 | $930 | 5 mi |
| Mossyrock | city | 875 | $53,333 | $840 | 6 mi |
| Onalaska | CDP | 848 | n/a | $844 | 16 mi |
| Vader | city | 745 | $64,688 | $1,191 | 30 mi |
| Toledo | city | 542 | $47,292 | $1,117 | 24 mi |
| Pe Ell | town | 538 | $62,679 | n/a | 44 mi |
| Packwood | CDP | 99 | n/a | n/a | 34 mi |
| Mineral | CDP | 7 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 30 to 55 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Pierce County leads the group on income ($99,564), Wahkiakum County trails ($62,653), and Lewis County out-earns 1 of the six. Some neighbors are in Oregon. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Lewis County resident follows Washington rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis County | - | $74,796 | $1,097/mo | 76% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 30 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
| Thurston County, WA | 33 mi | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
| Pierce County, WA | 34 mi | $99,564 | $1,806/mo | 65% |
| Skamania County, WA | 43 mi | $93,265 | $1,068/mo | 80% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 54 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Columbia County, OR | 55 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
Lewis County residents: age, schooling, coverage
22% of Lewis County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 6.3%, against 6.3% for Washington.
| Measure | Lewis County | Gap to Washington | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.5% | -18.1 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Work from home | 9.7% | -10.1 pts | +1.0 pts |
| Median age | 42.2 | +3.9 yrs | +0.7 yrs |
| No vehicle | 4.6% | -2.4 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | +2.3 pts | -1.0 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.7% | +1.0 pts | n/a |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | +0.2 pts | +0.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 6.3% | 0.0 pts | -1.5 pts |
| Commute length | Lewis County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 11.5% |
A Lewis County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Lewis County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $74,796 a year is $6,233 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,097 uses 18%
- $1,147: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Reading the Lewis County data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Lewis County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 20% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Lewis County emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 50% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Washington lender licensing
Before sharing details with a lender, a Lewis County resident can confirm its license with the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. If a Lewis County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. More on Washington: Washington personal loans.
Four steps for Lewis County borrowers
A short checklist for Lewis County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Washington license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Other Washington guides
Next step up from Lewis County:
Frequently asked questions
Is Lewis County a high-income county?
Its $74,796 median ranks 19th of 39 Washington counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Lewis County rent compare with Washington?
$1,097 locally versus $1,760 for the state, 38% below.
What are the biggest places in Lewis County?
By population: Centralia, Chehalis, Napavine, Winlock, Fords Prairie. The county has 13 Census places in all.
Will a Lewis County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Washington as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Lewis County residents?
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Washington; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.