Overview
Thurston County is home to 296,640 residents (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), placing it in the top 8% of U.S. counties by population. Situated at the southern end of Puget Sound, the county is Washington's seat of state government. Olympia anchors a public-sector economy that keeps income levels stable and poverty relatively low. Median household income reaches $93,985 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 93% of counties nationwide. The poverty rate sits at 9.5% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Median age is 39.8 years (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023).
Demographics
The population is 70.6% white, 10.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.7% Asian, 3.2% Black, and 0.9% Native American (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). The Asian share ranks higher than about 95% of U.S. counties, and the Hispanic share exceeds 74% of counties nationally. Both reflect longstanding diversity in the Olympia area tied to military installations and state government employment.
Some 37.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 89% of counties nationally. The state government workforce and Joint Base Lewis-McChord draw well-educated residents.
Education
Thurston County schools enrolled 40,804 students (Education Data Portal, 2021), larger than 92% of U.S. counties. The graduation rate of 80.1% (Education Data Portal, 2019) falls below the national average, a meaningful gap for a county with the state's administrative workforce.
Per-pupil spending of $18,480 (Education Data Portal, 2020) is above the national average, ranking in the top 22% nationally. The student-teacher ratio of 18:1 (Education Data Portal, 2021) is above 92% of U.S. counties. Spending is strong, but the graduation rate suggests other factors at work.
Economy & Employment
Median household income of $93,985 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023) puts Thurston County in the top 7% nationally. Per capita income is $44,646 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 89% of U.S. counties. IRS data shows an average adjusted gross income of $83,813 across 146,610 tax returns (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021), with total AGI reaching $12.3 billion.
The labor force totals 145,038, with 137,716 employed and an unemployment rate of 5% (BLS LAUS, Annual 2025). That rate falls higher than about 81% of U.S. counties, surprising for a government-anchored economy that typically offers stable employment. Average commute time is 21.8 minutes (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), shorter than 53% of counties.
Housing & Cost of Living
Median home value is $451,500 (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), higher than 95% of U.S. counties. Median gross rent runs $1,634 per month (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023), above 96% of counties nationally. Both figures are high relative to the county's income level.
HUD Fair Market Rents for 2026 break down as follows (HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026):
- Studio: $1,538
- One-bedroom: $1,682
- Two-bedroom: $1,960
- Three-bedroom: $2,613
- Four-bedroom: $3,288
The county has 123,333 total housing units with 6,161 vacant, producing a vacancy rate of 5% (Census ACS 5-Year, 2023). Rent consumes roughly 25% of median monthly household income (derived). The home value-to-income ratio sits at 4.8, somewhat more manageable than neighboring King or Kitsap, but still a stretch for buyers at median income. The four-bedroom FMR of $3,288 ranks in the top 1% nationally.
Health & Wellness
Thurston County's health data shows clear stress. Depression prevalence hits 28% (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than 88% of U.S. counties. Poor mental health days affect 17.9% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023). Those are high numbers for a county where public-sector employment offers relative job security.
Obesity rates stand at 31.1% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than about 91% of U.S. counties. Diabetes prevalence is 8.9% (CDC PLACES, 2023), lower than roughly 88% of counties. High blood pressure affects 30.8% of adults (CDC PLACES, 2023), higher than about 69% of counties nationally.
Annual checkup rates sit at just 66.7% (CDC PLACES, 2023), in the bottom 2% nationally. That's one of the lowest preventive care rates in the country. The no-health-insurance rate of 7.4% (CDC PLACES, 2023) doesn't explain it: most residents have coverage. Low checkup rates despite coverage and decent incomes suggest other barriers to care.
Climate & Natural Disasters
Thurston County averages 51.5°F annually, with highs around 62.3°F and lows near 40.7°F (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025). Annual precipitation totals 46.2 inches (NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025), more than about 73% of U.S. counties. No snowfall data is available from NOAA for this station. The wet, mild climate is characteristic of the western Puget Sound lowlands.
FEMA records show 29 declared disasters (FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026). The most recent was a flood emergency declaration in December 2025. The full disaster history by type includes: 13 floods, 9 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 earthquakes, 1 fire, 1 coastal storm, and 1 volcanic eruption.
Flooding is the dominant hazard. Thirteen flood declarations span 1972 through 2025, with the most recent coming within this data period. Six disaster declarations have occurred since 2020. The county's low-lying terrain near inlets and river systems creates persistent flood exposure that shows no sign of receding.
Financial Profile
Total adjusted gross income across Thurston County reached $12.3 billion from 146,610 tax returns (IRS Statistics of Income, 2021). Average AGI was $83,813 per return, higher than 86% of U.S. counties.
The county has 60 FDIC-insured bank branches holding $6.4 billion in deposits (FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023). That branch count ranks in the top 8% nationally.
Social Security beneficiaries total 67,900 (SSA OASDI, 2024), about 22.9% of the population. That share is slightly above national norms, consistent with the county's middle-aged workforce.
Key Comparisons
Thurston County consistently ranks near the top nationally on economic measures. Household income (93rd among U.S. counties) and educational attainment (89th) are both strong. The four-bedroom FMR ranking in the top 1% nationally signals how expensive family-sized rentals have become relative to most of the country.
Within Washington state, the county ranks 85th on household income, in the top 15% statewide. Home values land higher than about 64% of U.S. counties mark, more moderate than Seattle or Kitsap but still above the state's median.
The annual checkup rate of 66.7% stands out as a genuine anomaly. Ranking in the bottom 2% nationally for preventive care while having above-average incomes, above-average insurance coverage, and above-average education is unusual. Combined with the high depression rate, it suggests the county's health system has gaps that income alone doesn't fill.
Data Sources
- Census ACS 5-Year, 2023: Population, income, housing, demographics, education attainment, commute times, poverty
- BLS LAUS, Annual 2025: Employment and unemployment
- CDC PLACES, 2023: Health outcomes and preventive care
- HUD Fair Market Rents, 2026: Rental cost benchmarks
- FEMA OpenFEMA, 2026: Disaster declarations
- IRS Statistics of Income, 2021: Tax return data and income
- FDIC Summary of Deposits, 2023: Bank branches and deposits
- NOAA Climate Data Online, 2025: Temperature and precipitation
- SSA OASDI, 2024: Social Security beneficiaries
- Education Data Portal, 2019/2020/2021: School enrollment, spending, staffing, graduation rates