Population 299,067 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Thurston County
Household size in Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.56 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.55 | 2.62 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.55 | 2.62 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.61 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Thurston County run a little small, averaging 2.55 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.47 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southwest.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.9 | 38.0 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.5 | 38.7 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.3 | 39.3 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.8 | 39.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.9 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Thurston County are younger than 40.8 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.9, as it has nationally. The youngest areas are in the southeast, the oldest in the north.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.1% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.3% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.8% | 10.1% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Thurston County than nationally: 9.8%, against 11.6%. Washington as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 Thurston County
Renters in Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.6% | 35.2% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 35.1% | 37.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.6% | 37.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 36.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Thurston County is about as common as it is nationally: 32.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a smaller share here than in Washington as a whole (36.2%). Among owners, 34.7% have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the west; owners are most common in the southeast.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.5% | 9.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.7% | 8.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.8% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Thurston County: 5.8% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.7 points, mirroring the country. Few Washington counties have a lower vacancy rate: only three of 39.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1985 | 1977 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1986 | 1979 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1988 | 1980 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1990 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +6 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Thurston County is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1990, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole. The median year built has moved up from 1985 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the north. Only two of Washington's 39 counties have newer homes.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,046 | $1,018 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,137 | $1,127 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,319 | $1,390 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,838 | $1,875 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$792 | +$858 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Thurston County costs $1,838 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $792 a month since 2006–10, up 76%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 32.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the southwest.
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 Thurston County
Bachelor's degrees in Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.4% | 31.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 32.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 35.2% | 35.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.2% | 38.8% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.9 pts | +7.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Thurston County as nationally: 38.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 6.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the northwest and least in the southwest.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 92.7% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.5% | 90.0% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.6% | 91.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.7% | 91.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +2.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Thurston County: 94.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Thurston County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Washington counties.
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 Thurston County
| Period | Thurston County | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 7.6% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.1% | 8.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.0% | 5.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Thurston County is close to the national rate: 5.0% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 2.4 points, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Thurston County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County | 2.55 | 40.8 | 9.8% | 32.3% | 5.8% | 1990 | $1,838 | 38.2% | 94.7% | 5.0% |
| Mason County | 2.62 | 45.8 | 9.2% | 17.7% | 18.9% | 1989 | $1,315 | 21.0% | 89.8% | 6.0% |
| Pierce County | 2.68 | 38.3 | 12.3% | 35.3% | 6.3% | 1984 | $1,975 | 30.6% | 92.4% | 5.3% |
| Lewis County | 2.63 | 42.9 | 10.7% | 24.2% | 7.5% | 1979 | $1,132 | 21.7% | 91.0% | 5.3% |
| Grays Harbor County | 2.53 | 44.5 | 12.5% | 26.8% | 13.8% | 1969 | $1,074 | 17.7% | 89.0% | 7.1% |
| King County | 2.53 | 38.6 | 7.8% | 44.6% | 7.0% | 1981 | $2,293 | 55.7% | 93.4% | 5.0% |
| Pacific County | 2.18 | 52.8 | 9.7% | 18.2% | 28.9% | 1973 | $1,160 | 24.8% | 90.9% | 5.0% |
| Kittitas County | 2.35 | 39.1 | 6.9% | 38.5% | 15.1% | 1990 | $1,542 | 38.6% | 94.1% | 5.5% |
| Yakima County | 3.01 | 34.2 | 18.2% | 38.2% | 6.1% | 1977 | $1,212 | 18.5% | 75.7% | 7.4% |
| Chelan County | 2.61 | 41.4 | 9.6% | 35.4% | 14.2% | 1981 | $1,300 | 30.8% | 86.3% | 3.9% |
| Douglas County | 2.76 | 39.5 | 14.3% | 30.7% | 10.6% | 1986 | $1,489 | 21.7% | 82.4% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Yuma County, AZ · Washington County, AR · Washington County, MN · Washington County, PA · Webb County, TX · Weber County, UT · Brazoria County, TX · Yolo County, CA · York County, ME · Bell County, 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 Thurston County. 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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