CensusEasy
COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Thurston County

Washington · 294,793 residents · 722.501 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Part of the Lacey metro area
Compare
The short version

Thurston County is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $75,867. Population has grown 42% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $315,600.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Mid-age
median age 39.5
US median: 38.8
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 51%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
294,793
+42%since 2000
from 207,355 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
408 / sq mi
+42%since 2000
from 287 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
39.5
+8%since 2000
from 36.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
147K189K230K272K313K1990201020202024Thurston County
2024299K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$75,867
+7%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $46,975 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$36,256
+62%since 2000
from $22,415 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
50.6%
+13.5 ptssince 2009
from 37.1% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
9.8%
+1.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11.9%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.6%
Retail trade5.2%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.4%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical3.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Public administration3.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.8%
US avg: 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 2%
Education & health services0.6%
US avg: 0.8%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.5%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$315,600
+51%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $138,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,275
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $655 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
65.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.6% in 2000
34.2% rent
Afford Score
4.2
+41%since 2000
from 3.0 in 2000
1990 – 2024
RELATED:See current rent listings in Thurston County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.4%(172,963)
Black2.3%(4,714)
Hispanic / Latino4.5%(9,392)
Asian4.4%(9,034)
Other0%
Diversity Score27.1%(56,266)
Segregation Score0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic70.6%(207,985)
Black3%(8,893)
Hispanic / Latino9.8%(29,024)
Asian5.7%(16,878)
Other8.2%(24,266)
Diversity Score56.7%(167,004)
Segregation Score21.4%(62,973)
Diversity Score
57
+109%since 2000
from 27 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.7%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 29.8% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.9%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 89.5% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
13.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2000
from 11.1% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.8 min
+62%since 2000
from 16.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
77.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 77.2% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.6% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
6.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2011
from 7.6% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
62.6%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 65.3% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
42.4%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 68.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.1% in 2009
Female
51.1%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.9% in 2009
Foreign born
8.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
4.7%
−83.6 ptssince 2013
from 88.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Thurston County

Cumberland County
Pop 317,222
Dutchess County
Pop 300,708
San Luis Obispo County
Pop 282,367
Ottawa County
Pop 308,459
Places similar to Thurston County
Head to head

Compare Thurston County to nearby counties

THURSTON COUNTY VS
Lewis County
Income$74,796−1%
Home value$385,800+22%
Population88,062−71%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Pierce County
Income$99,564+31%
Home value$526,600+67%
Population946,288+211%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Mason County
Income$83,270+10%
Home value$411,800+30%
Population71,165−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
THURSTON COUNTY VS
Grays Harbor County
Income$64,414−15%
Home value$314,000−1%
Population78,144−74%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Thurston County, Washington?

Thurston County, Washington has about 294,793 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Thurston County, Washington?

The typical household in Thurston County, Washington earns about $75,867 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Thurston County, Washington expensive?

In Thurston County, Washington, the median home is worth about $315,600, and the typical rent is about $1,275 a month.

How educated are people in Thurston County, Washington?

About 35.7% of adults age 25 and over in Thurston County, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Thurston County, Washington?

About 9.8% of people in Thurston County, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Thurston County, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Thurston County, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 133,555 residents, a change of about 83 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

62 census tracts (top 20 by population)
Census Tract 122.21Census Tract 109.10Census Tract 127.20Census Tract 124.22Census Tract 127.30Census Tract 117.20Census Tract 115Census Tract 106Census Tract 126.10Census Tract 124.12Census Tract 112Census Tract 107Census Tract 116.23Census Tract 120.01Census Tract 123.30Census Tract 118.21Census Tract 105.20Census Tract 123.32Census Tract 116.28Census Tract 122.26
14 ZIP codes
ZIP 98501ZIP 98503ZIP 98513ZIP 98502ZIP 98512ZIP 98516ZIP 98597ZIP 98506ZIP 98579ZIP 98589ZIP 98576ZIP 98505ZIP 98530ZIP 98556
Up the hierarchy
All counties in Washington
Rankings
Highest income countiesLowest poverty counties

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →