Tumwater is home to 26,956 people in Washington. The population has more than doubled since 2000, adding 14,258 people. Few US cities rank higher on income. About 43% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Density works out to 1,519 people per square mile. The foreign-born share is 8%.
At a glance
Wealthier
median household income $95,212, above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.1
US median: 38.9
More educated
43% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 94%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Tumwater
What changed most since 1990
Population9,976 → 26,956(+170%)US over the same years: +35%
Median home value (2024 dollars)$172,805 → $472,200(+173%)US over the same years: +67%
White share94.4% → 66.5%(−27.9 pts)US over the same years: −17.8 pts
Tumwater's population equals 9.0% of Thurston County's. Its number of people who work from home equals 13% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 6.6% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)40.3%(904)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)37.8%(847)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era20.1%(451)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.2%(28)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0.6%(14)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 2,241 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
Tumwater, decade by decade
Tumwater population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
9,976
$70,384
$172,805
24.1%
13.4
2000
12,698
$78,930
$243,373
33.2%
31.3
2010
17,371
$87,156
$374,604
33.7%
40.3
2020
25,350
$92,934
$378,883
36.7%
55.7
2024
26,956
$95,212
$472,200
42.9%
65.8
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
