Population 7,653 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Ocean Shores
Household size in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.01 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.10 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 1.93 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 1.96 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Ocean Shores is a place of small households, averaging 1.96 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has edged down from 2.01 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only one other Washington city with 5,000+ people has smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.2 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 58.5 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 62.3 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 62.4 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Ocean Shores skews older: half of its residents are older than 62.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 55.2, a much bigger shift than nationally. No other Washington city with 5,000+ people is older.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.4% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.9% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.9% of households in Ocean Shores, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.5 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Ocean Shores
Renters in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.7% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 16.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.1% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.6% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.1 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.6% of households in Ocean Shores rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 49.0% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the north and least common in the west. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 2.1 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 49.4% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 40.7% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.4% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.0 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 31.4% of the housing in Ocean Shores, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 7.0 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1990 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1993 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1994 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1996 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Ocean Shores is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1996, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1990 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northwest.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $798 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $888 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,030 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,368 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$570 | +$858 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ocean Shores pays $1,368 a month for rent and utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $570 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 43.5% of household income on rent, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the southeast; the most affordable are in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Ocean Shores
Bachelor's degrees in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.3% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.8% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.7% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.7% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Ocean Shores: 24.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 3.4 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the northeast.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 91.4% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 92.2% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.8% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.4% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.0 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Ocean Shores is a bit above the national rate: 91.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Washington.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Ocean Shores
| Period | Ocean Shores | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.9% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −4.2 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ocean Shores is close to the national rate: 5.7% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 4.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Ocean Shores compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Shores | 1.96 | 62.4 | 7.9% | 16.6% | 31.4% | 1996 | $1,368 | 24.7% | 91.4% | 5.7% |
| Westport | 2.03 | 55.9 | 4.2% | 36.6% | 38.3% | 1979 | $885 | 18.5% | 89.5% | 2.1% |
| Ocosta | 2.12 | 41.3 | 12.7% | 6.9% | 4.7% | 1982 | $633 | 4.8% | 94.6% | 0.0% |
| Newton | 2.74 | 35.4 | 18.4% | 19.7% | 26.0% | 1969 | $668 | 27.0% | 93.4% | 1.9% |
| Copalis Beach | 2.28 | 60.3 | 9.8% | 5.9% | 44.1% | 1989 | $735 | 28.2% | 95.2% | 9.4% |
| Grays Harbor City | 2.65 | 44.6 | 19.0% | 23.6% | 2.9% | 1951 | $859 | 24.8% | 90.7% | 4.1% |
| New London | 2.74 | 39.3 | 14.4% | 29.2% | 4.4% | 1971 | $708 | 12.4% | 88.6% | 2.1% |
| Markham | 2.12 | 41.3 | 12.7% | 6.9% | 4.7% | 1982 | $633 | 4.8% | 94.6% | 0.0% |
| Hoquiam | 2.43 | 39.8 | 15.8% | 35.6% | 8.0% | 1945 | $1,174 | 18.8% | 92.8% | 10.0% |
| Grayland | 1.77 | 58.8 | 9.2% | 17.3% | 49.7% | 1977 | $735 | 22.7% | 91.0% | 17.6% |
| Bay City | 2.29 | 44.4 | 8.3% | 11.8% | 42.7% | 1978 | $922 | 15.1% | 93.4% | 10.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Neptune Beach, FL · Nolanville, TX · Nitro, WV · Nicholls, GA · New Tazewell, TN · New Lexington, OH · New Lebanon, OH · New Freedom, PA · New Castle, CO · New Boston, TX
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Ocean Shores. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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