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Thurston County, WA
12 cities and towns and 14 ZIP codes in Thurston County, Washington.
Population
299,067
Land area
723sq mi
People per sq mi
414
ZIP codes
14
Cities and towns in Thurston County
Thurston County at a glance
- Thurston County is about 3.5 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
- It is the 6th most populous of 39 counties in Washington.
- The median household income is $96,563, close to the Washington median.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $480,300 (15% below Washington) and median rent is $1,736 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Lacey (57,737), Olympia (55,951) and Tumwater (26,956).
Local data for Thurston County, WA
Counts from official public data
- Hospitals3
- Emergency Rooms2
- Nursing Homes7
- Schools100
- Colleges3
- Libraries7
- Banks48
- Post Offices14
- Parks146
- Grocery Stores105
- Restaurants665
- Affordable Housing11
- Home Health Agencies2
- Hospice Care2
- Dialysis Centers5
- Community Health Centers10
- Mental Health & Addiction Treatment20
- Private Schools16
- Superfund Sites1
- Toxic Release Facilities5
- Historic Places55
Housing and community stats
Thurston County, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$96,563
Poverty rate
9.5%
Median home value
$480,300
Prices +2.3% in a year
Median rent
$1,736/mo
Homeownership
67.7%
Bachelor's or higher
38.5%
Median age
40.0
Average commute
25.8 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (48,884), Irish Americans (34,942), Mexican Americans (18,591).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
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
$3.36B
FY 2026, $11,389 per person
PPP loans
$447M
5,388 loans, 50,133 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$2.48M
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Thurston County, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone66.9%
- Carpooled7.5%
- Public transit1.0%
- Walked2.3%
- Bicycle0.4%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other1.4%
- Worked from home20.5%
Average one-way commute: 25.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Thurston County, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
25
Most often 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 zone55 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Thurston County, WA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
31.2%
U.S. 33.3% -2.1 pts
Diabetes
10.3%
U.S. 12.1% -1.8 pts
Smoking
10.2%
U.S. 12.8% -2.6 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.3%
U.S. 11.1% -3.8 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Thurston County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Thurston County, WA?
- Lacey is the largest city or town in Thurston County, with about 57,737 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Thurston County?
- Thurston County includes 14 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 98501, 98502, 98503, 98505, 98506.
- What is the population of Thurston County, WA?
- About 299,067 people live in Thurston County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Thurston County?
- Thurston County borders Pierce County, Lewis County, Grays Harbor County, Mason County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023