Thurston County, Washington Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Thurston County is located in Washington with a total population of 296,640. It is the 6th most populous county out of 39 in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Thurston County is 39.8 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Thurston County is $93,985. This is 1% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 20% higher. The poverty rate stands at 9.7%. This is 2% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.2%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $451,500. Housing costs are 13% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.8x. 67.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Thurston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 70.6% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.3%.

Education

37.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 4% lower than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.5%.