Thurston County, WA Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 296,936 | 7,740,889 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 383.9 | 108.5 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.55% | 1.20% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 38.7 | 36.2 | 37.1 |
| Households | 117,165 | 3,012,519 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Thurston County grew by 23.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 296,620 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Thurston County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $93,531 | $95,177 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 5.79% | 6.00% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 5.0% | 4.9% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Thurston County is about 2% lower than in Washington.
Housing
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $429,634 | $471,160 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,634 | $1,681 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 67.8% | 63.9% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Thurston County is about 21.9 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,634 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Thurston County spend about 44 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 184 hours, about 7.7 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 22.1 | 22.6 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 44.1 | 45.2 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 184 | 188 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $5,701 | $5,842 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 17.7% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 15,879 | 10,119 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 2,120 | 1,525 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Washington:
Columbia County (11.6 min), Walla Walla County (12.0 min), San Juan County (12.7 min).
Slowest:
Mason County (32.4 min), Wahkiakum County (30.7 min), Snohomish County (28.7 min).
The average commute time in Thurston County is 22 minutes, shorter than the 23 minutes in Washington.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Thurston County has a education index of B, which means it is quite educated.
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 35.1% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.50 | 2.51 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.4), San Juan County (0.4), Jefferson County (0.4).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.2), Yakima County (0.2), Grant County (0.2).
Health
Thurston County has a health index of A, which means it is very healthy.
| Metric | Thurston County | Washington Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.8 | 79.6 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.8% | 15.4% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 15.1% | 16.4% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Washington:
King County (0.8), Whitman County (0.8), San Juan County (0.8).
Lowest:
Adams County (0.8), Okanogan County (0.8), Pacific County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Thurston County, Washington.
What is the population of Thurston County, Washington?
The population of Thurston County, Washington is 296,936, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Thurston County, Washington?
The population density of Thurston County, Washington is 383.9 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Thurston County, Washington?
The median household income in Thurston County, Washington is $93,531, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Thurston County, Washington?
The median home price in Thurston County, Washington is $429,634, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Thurston County, Washington?
The unemployment rate in Thurston County, Washington is 5.0%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.