Thurston County, Washington Demographics 2026
Thurston County, Washington has a population of 299,067, the 6th most populous county in Washington. The median household income is $96,563 and the median home value is $480,300. The poverty rate is 9.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Thurston County Quick Facts
How Thurston County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 296,640 | 299,067 | +0.8% |
| Median household income | $93,985 | $96,563 | +2.7% |
| Median home value | $451,500 | $480,300 | +6.4% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 56 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Thurston County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacey | 57,737 | $90,625 | 11.6% | $457,100 |
| Olympia | 55,951 | $81,302 | 14.0% | $486,200 |
| Tumwater | 26,956 | $95,212 | 7.0% | $472,200 |
| Yelm | 11,102 | $90,750 | 6.0% | $455,300 |
| Tanglewilde | 6,314 | $100,714 | 7.0% | $444,900 |
| Rochester | 5,834 | $99,286 | 16.3% | $445,300 |
| Grand Mound | 3,287 | $72,426 | 7.3% | $411,400 |
| North Yelm | 2,522 | $73,725 | 2.1% | $384,500 |
| Rainier | 2,455 | $106,019 | 14.6% | $425,900 |
| Tenino | 2,025 | $82,639 | 11.6% | $369,000 |
| Nisqually Indian Community | 628 | $73,750 | 17.5% | $310,000 |
| Bucoda | 494 | $73,250 | 32.3% | $270,000 |
Explore Washington Rankings
Population Overview
Thurston County is located in Washington with a total population of 299,067. It is the 6th most populous county out of 39 in Washington. The county encompasses 12 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Thurston County is 40.0 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 38.3 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Thurston County is $96,563. This is 2% lower than the state median of $98,141. It is also 20% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.6%. This is 4% lower than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 1% higher than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $480,300. Housing costs are 15% lower than the state median of $564,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.0x. 67.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 6% higher than the state average of 63.8%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Thurston County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 69.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.6%.
Education
38.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 39.6%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Thurston County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Washington and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Thurston County, Washington?
Thurston County has a population of 299,067, making it the 6th most populous county in Washington.
What is the median income in Thurston County?
The median household income in Thurston County is $96,563 with a poverty rate of 9.6%.
How many cities are in Thurston County, Washington?
Thurston County contains 12 Census-designated places.