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Rainier, WA

City in Thurston County, Washington.

Population

2,455

Land area

1.7sq mi

People per sq mi

1,412

ZIP codes

0

Rainier and its ZIP codes

Full map

Rainier at a glance

  • Rainier is about 12 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • The median household income is $106,019, 8% above the Washington median of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $425,900 (25% below Washington) and median rent is $1,227 a month.

Local data for Rainier, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Rainier, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$106,019

Poverty rate

14.6%

Median home value

$425,900

Median rent

$1,227/mo

Homeownership

85.8%

Bachelor's or higher

22.4%

Median age

36.3

Average commute

37.9 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (513), Irish Americans (287), Mexican Americans (280).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Thurston County. PPP loans are for Rainier.

Details

Unemployment rate

4.3%

Aug 2026, -0.3 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$76,235

129,835 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$69,277

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$3.4B

FY 2026, $11,389 per person

Thurston County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Rainier, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone69.4%
  • Carpooled3.7%
  • Public transit0.0%
  • Walked0.0%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.2%
  • Worked from home23.6%

Average one-way commute: 37.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Rainier, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

25

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

703

0.9% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

78° / 33°F

50.6 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Rainier, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.8%

U.S. 33.3% -0.5 pts

Diabetes

9.4%

U.S. 12.1% -2.7 pts

Smoking

12.7%

U.S. 12.8% about the same

Uninsured (18-64)

8.0%

U.S. 11.1% -3.1 pts

Cities near Rainier

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
YelmCity4.7 mi5.8
North YelmCensus-designated place6.5 mi3.3
McKennaCensus-designated place7.2 mi1.1
TeninoCity8.7 mi1.5
Nisqually Indian CommunityCensus-designated place8.8 mi3.1
RoyCity10 mi0.5
BucodaTown11 mi0.6
TanglewildeCensus-designated place12 mi1.3
LaceyCity12 mi18.6
TumwaterCity12 mi17.7
OlympiaCity14 mi18.2
Fort LewisCensus-designated place15 mi10.3
DuPontCity15 mi5.8
South CreekCensus-designated place16 mi7.7
North Fort LewisCensus-designated place16 mi5.9
Grand MoundCensus-designated place17 mi4.1

Frequently asked questions

What county is Rainier, WA in?
Rainier is in Thurston County, Washington.
What is the population of Rainier, WA?
About 2,455 people live in Rainier, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Rainier?
Nearby places include Yelm (4.7 mi), North Yelm (6.5 mi), McKenna (7.2 mi), Tenino (8.7 mi), Nisqually Indian Community (8.8 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023