1st Advantage MortgageThe median Thurston County household earns $96,563, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Thurston County borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Washington license.
On this page
- Thurston County at a glance
- What it costs to live in Thurston County
- Thurston County industries and commutes
- How Thurston County ranks in Washington
- Thurston County income bands
- Regional comparison for Thurston County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Thurston County
- Thurston County demographics against Washington
- Budget math at the Thurston County median
- Reading the Thurston County data as a borrower
- Licensing and complaints for Thurston County
- Four steps for Thurston County borrowers
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Thurston County at a glance
Roughly 299,067 residents live in Thurston County, Washington, 6th by population among the state's 39 counties and county equivalents. It covers 723 square miles of land, or about 414 people per square mile. Thurston County counts toward the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA metro in the 2023 OMB delineation, so regional figures for Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA include it. Largest place: Lacey, about 57,737 residents (19% of Thurston County); 12 Census places in all.
What it costs to live in Thurston County
$1,736 a month is the median gross rent in Thurston County. By the Census definition, 55% of Thurston County renters are cost-burdened. Median value $480,300; median income $96,563; ratio 5.0. The ownership rate is 68%. The median year built is 1991.
| Measure | Thurston County | Washington | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 50% | +5.5 pts |
| Owners | 68% | 64% | +3.9 pts |
| Median home value | $480,300 | $564,600 | 15% lower |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | +0.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $1,736/mo | $1,760/mo | level |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Thurston County industries and commutes
Top Thurston County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 23%; second, public administration, 17%. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 17% locally and 5% for Washington. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.2% in Thurston County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 16%; under 15 minutes: 26%.
| Industry | Share of Thurston County workers | vs Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 17.2% | +12.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.5% | -5.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.0% | -0.2 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -0.8 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Thurston County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Thurston County ranks in Washington
- The share of workers who work from home: 20.5% in Thurston County. Only 3 of 39 Washington counties are higher. Remote and self-employed income may need tax returns as proof.
- The housing vacancy rate: 5% in Thurston County. Only 4 of 39 Washington counties are lower. Few vacant units can mean a tight housing market.
- Median household income: $96,563 in Thurston County. Only 5 of 39 Washington counties are higher. Higher local incomes do not change lender rules; your documented income is what counts.
Thurston County income bands
The median household income in Thurston County is $96,563; statewide it is $98,141, so Thurston County runs 2% below Washington as a whole. Only 5 Washington counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Thurston County | Gap to Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 15.0% | -1.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.0% | +2.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.9% | +5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.1% | -6.4 pts |
Some 15% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 48% have six-figure incomes. Poverty rate, Thurston County: 9.5%; Washington: 9.9%. Thurston County scores 0.403 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. None of these numbers decides a Thurston County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Regional comparison for Thurston County
Distances run center to center, from Lewis County at 33 miles out to Cowlitz County at 52. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Thurston County; Kitsap County is highest at $104,158 and Grays Harbor County lowest at $64,414.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County | - | $96,563 | $1,736/mo | 68% |
| Lewis County, WA | 33 mi | $74,796 | $1,097/mo | 76% |
| Pierce County, WA | 33 mi | $99,564 | $1,806/mo | 65% |
| Mason County, WA | 33 mi | $83,270 | $1,285/mo | 82% |
| Grays Harbor County, WA | 49 mi | $64,414 | $1,062/mo | 73% |
| Kitsap County, WA | 49 mi | $104,158 | $1,822/mo | 70% |
| Cowlitz County, WA | 52 mi | $76,531 | $1,206/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Thurston County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Thurston County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 175,305 people, so roughly 41% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $72,426 in Grand Mound to $106,019 in Rainier. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacey | city | 57,737 | $90,625 | $1,870 | 8 mi |
| Olympia | city | 55,951 | $81,302 | $1,599 | 8 mi |
| Tumwater | city | 26,956 | $95,212 | $1,779 | 6 mi |
| Yelm | city | 11,102 | $90,750 | $1,626 | 9 mi |
| Tanglewilde | CDP | 6,314 | $100,714 | $1,852 | 8 mi |
| Rochester | CDP | 5,834 | $99,286 | $1,161 | 14 mi |
| Grand Mound | CDP | 3,287 | $72,426 | $1,426 | 13 mi |
| North Yelm | CDP | 2,522 | $73,725 | $1,464 | 10 mi |
| Rainier | city | 2,455 | $106,019 | $1,227 | 7 mi |
| Tenino | city | 2,025 | $82,639 | $1,400 | 6 mi |
| Nisqually Indian Community | CDP | 628 | $73,750 | $1,000 | 10 mi |
| Bucoda | town | 494 | $73,250 | $1,338 | 10 mi |
Thurston County demographics against Washington
In Thurston County, 38% of adults have at least a four-year degree (40% in Washington). Health coverage gaps: 5.0% of Thurston County residents are uninsured.
| Residents | Thurston County | Difference from Washington | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | -2.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | -2.3 pts | -0.7 pts |
| Median age | 40.0 | +1.7 yrs | -1.5 yrs |
| No health insurance | 5.0% | -1.4 pts | -2.9 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.5% | -1.1 pts | +16.3 pts |
| Work from home | 20.5% | +0.7 pts | +11.8 pts |
| Poverty rate | 9.5% | -0.4 pts | -3.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | +0.1 pts | +0.7 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 39.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Budget math at the Thurston County median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Thurston County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $8,047 before taxes
- 22% goes to median rent ($1,736)
- $1,724: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Thurston County data as a borrower
Based on the Thurston County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 48% of Thurston County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Thurston County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Licensing and complaints for Thurston County
Thurston County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Washington page has statewide figures to set beside Thurston County's.
Four steps for Thurston County borrowers
Quick steps for Thurston County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Washington.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Keep exploring
No city in Thurston County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is $96,563 a good income in Thurston County?
It is the county median, so half of Thurston County households earn more and half less; 48% earn $100,000 or more.
How much is rent in Thurston County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,736 a month; 55% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Is Bucoda covered?
Yes. Bucoda is one of 12 Census places in Thurston County, and this guide covers all of them.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Thurston County or elsewhere in Washington, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Thurston 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.