1st Advantage MortgagePacific County households have a median income of $67,081 and median rent of $1,005 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of Pacific County
- Pacific County housing compared with Washington
- Income in Pacific County compared with Washington
- Jobs and commutes in Pacific County
- Towns and communities in Pacific County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in Pacific County
- What the numbers mean for Pacific County borrowers
- Pacific County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- A Pacific County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Washington
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Pacific County
Pacific County is home to about 23,994 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 39 county-level areas in Washington. It covers 933 square miles of land, or about 26 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (4 incorporated, 7 census-designated); the largest is Raymond, with about 3,210 residents, or 13% of the county.
Pacific County housing compared with Washington
A typical Pacific County rental runs $1,005 a month including utilities, which is 43% below Washington. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $334,800, about 5.0 times the median household income. 82% of Pacific County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Cost | Pacific County | Washington figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,005/mo | $1,760/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $334,800 | $564,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 64% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.5% | 5.5% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 33% | 7% | n/a |
Because most Pacific County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Income in Pacific County compared with Washington
Half of Pacific County households take in less than $67,081 a year and half take in more, 32% below the Washington median of $98,141.
| Yearly household income | Pacific County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.8% | +10.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.9% | +7.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.5% | -7.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -10.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Pacific County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.4% of Pacific County residents in poverty, against 9.9% across Washington. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.488 here. For a borrower in Pacific County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Jobs and commutes in Pacific County
The biggest employer of Pacific County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 18% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Public administration stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Pacific County averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 5.1%). 15% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home. Households without a car make up 5.5% of the total (7.1% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pacific County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.7% | -4.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 11.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | +0.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Towns and communities in Pacific County
Here are the 11 most populous of the county's 11 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 52% of Pacific County residents live in one of the 11. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $45,000 in South Bend to $108,147 in Chinook. Median rent ranges from $741 in Long Beach to $1,349 in Ocean Park. Live in one of these Pacific County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raymond | city | 3,210 | $48,516 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Ocean Park | CDP | 2,122 | $65,676 | $1,349 | 13 mi |
| South Bend | city | 1,869 | $45,000 | $1,010 | 8 mi |
| Long Beach | city | 1,792 | $53,032 | $741 | 19 mi |
| Ilwaco | city | 1,365 | $98,200 | $1,170 | 20 mi |
| Chinook | CDP | 541 | $108,147 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Naselle | CDP | 528 | $58,459 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Lebam | CDP | 436 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bay Center | CDP | 206 | $72,206 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Willapa | CDP | 172 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Tokeland | CDP | 122 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 25 to 58 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Thurston County leads the group on income ($96,563), Wahkiakum County trails ($62,653), and Pacific County out-earns 2 of the six. Some neighbors are in Oregon. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Pacific County resident follows Washington rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific County | - | $67,081 | $1,005/mo | 82% |
| Wahkiakum County, WA | 25 mi | $62,653 | $853/mo | 83% |
| Clatsop County, OR | 37 mi | $71,822 | $1,180/mo | 63% |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 39 mi | $64,414 | $1,062/mo | 73% |
| Thurston County, WA | 52 mi | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
| Columbia County, OR | 54 mi | $87,458 | $1,373/mo | 76% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 58 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
Room for a loan payment in Pacific County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Pacific County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,590 a month: gross income for a household at the Pacific County median
- Less median rent of $1,005, which is 18% of it
- Under a 36% cap, $2,012 total minus rent leaves $1,007
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
What the numbers mean for Pacific County borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Pacific County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 17% of Pacific County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 55, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Pacific County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 25% of the adult population. 5.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Pacific County | Washington | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.0 | 38.3 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.9% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 7.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 6.3% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.5% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.5% | 19.8% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 9.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | 5.1% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Pacific County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
A Pacific County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pacific County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pacific County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Washington
Consumer lenders serving Pacific County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Washington that is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Washington guide.
Related local guides
The Washington guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Pacific County household make?
About $67,081 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 32% below the Washington median.
How does Pacific County rent compare with Washington?
$1,005 locally versus $1,760 for the state, 43% below.
I live in a small Pacific County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Raymond, Ocean Park, South Bend, Long Beach, Ilwaco and 6 more.
Does living in Pacific 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 Pacific County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Pacific County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Washington it is the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions.