Thurston County, WA

Add Comparison

Population

286,419

2.08% growth

Median Age

38.8


Median Household Income

$72,703

1.31% growth

Poverty Rate

11.6%


Number of Employees

132,697

2.51% growth

Median Property Value

$314,900

11.1% growth

About

Economy

Health

Diversity

Education

Housing & Living

About

In 2018, Thurston County, WA had a population of 286k people with a median age of 38.8 and a median household income of $72,703. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Thurston County, WA grew from 280,588 to 286,419, a 2.08% increase and its median household income grew from $71,765 to $72,703, a 1.31% increase.

The population of Thurston County, WA is 74.4% White Alone, 9.18% Hispanic or Latino, and 5.89% Asian Alone. N/A% of the people in Thurston County, WA speak a non-English language, and 96.8% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Thurston County, WA are South Puget Sound Community College (1,498 degrees awarded in 2017), The Evergreen State College (1,032 degrees), and Saint Martin's University (512 degrees).

The median property value in Thurston County, WA is $314,900, and the homeownership rate is 64.1%. Most people in Thurston County, WA commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 26 minutes. The average car ownership in Thurston County, WA is 2 cars per household.

Photo by brewbooks

United StatesWashingtonOlympia-Tumwater, WA

Economy

The economy of Thurston County, WA employs 133k people. The largest industries in Thurston County, WA are Public Administration (20,356 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (18,097 people), and Retail Trade (14,846 people), and the highest paying industries are Utilities ($118,643), Public Administration ($62,938), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($62,167).

Median household income in Thurston County, WA is $72,703. Males in Thurston County, WA have an average income that is 1.35 times higher than the average income of females, which is $58,794. The income inequality in Thurston County, WA (measured using the Gini index) is 0.469, which is lower than than the national average.

Wages

Median Household Income

$72,703

2018 value

± $3,003

1.31%

1 Year Growth

± 5.48%

Households in Thurston County, WA have a median annual income of $72,703, which is more than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $71,765 in 2017, which represents a 1.31% annual growth.

Look at the chart to see how the median household income in Thurston County, WA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

$79,555

Average Male Salary

± $1,504

$58,794

Average Female Salary

± $1,224

In 2018, full-time male employees in Washington made 1.35 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Washington by number of full-time employees.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity

  1. Asian

    $76,629 ± $3,310

  2. White

    $62,679 ± $1,044

  3. Two or More Races

    $50,209 ± $3,211

In 2018 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Washington workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.22 times more than White workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Washington by number of full-time employees.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Thurston County, WA is from Washington.

0.469

2018 Wage GINI

0.466

2017 Wage GINI

In 2018, the income inequality in Washington was 0.469 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.658% growth from 2017 to 2018, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even.

The 2018 the GINI for Washington was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Washington in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Washington across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

  1. Census Tract 118.10

  2. Census Tract 122.21

  3. Census Tract 122.11

In 2017, the tract with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Thurston County, WA was Census Tract 118.10 with a value of $93,698, followed by Census Tract 122.21 and Census Tract 122.11, with respective values of $92,054 and $90,673.

The following map shows all of the tracts in Thurston County, WA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

11.6% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Thurston County, WA (30.8k out of 266k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is lower than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Males 25 - 34 and then Females 18 - 24.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

  1. White

    23,262 ± 1,148

  2. Hispanic

    4,934 ± 546

  3. Two Or More

    2,394 ± 392

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Thurston County, WA is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

133k

2018 Value

± 6,305

2.51%

1 Year growth

± 6.45%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Thurston County, WA grew at a rate of 2.51%, from 129k employees to 133k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Thurston County, WA, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (14,508 people), Management Occupations (13,454 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (12,298 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Thurston County, WA.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Thurston County, WA, by number of employees, are Office & Administrative Support Occupations (14,508 people), Management Occupations (13,454 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (12,298 people).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Thurston County, WA has an unusually high number of residents working as Farming, Fishing, & Forestry Occupations (1.85 times higher than expected), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors (1.73 times), and Fire Fighting & Prevention, & Other Protective Service Workers Including Supervisors (1.58 times).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Thurston County, WA, by median earnings, are Architecture & Engineering Occupations ($84,803), Legal Occupations ($83,140), and Health Diagnosing & Treating Practitioners & Other Technical Occupations ($80,816).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Industries

Employment by Industries

133k

2018 Value

± 6,305

2.51%

1 Year growth

± 6.45%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Thurston County, WA grew at a rate of 2.51%, from 129k employees to 133k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Thurston County, WA, are Public Administration (20,356 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (18,097 people), and Retail Trade (14,846 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Thurston County, WA, though some of these residents may live in Thurston County, WA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Most Common

The most common industries in Thurston County, WA, by number of employees, are Public Administration (20,356 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (18,097 people), and Retail Trade (14,846 people).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Most Specialized

Compared to other counties, Thurston County, WA has an unusually high number of Public Administration (3.35 times higher than expected), Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting (2.53 times), and Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation (1.16 times) industries.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Thurston County, WA, by median earnings, are Utilities ($118,643), Public Administration ($62,938), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($62,167).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

  1. Transport equip.

    $45.6B

  2. Mixed freight

    $39.9B

  3. Misc. mfg. prods.

    $29B

In 2015, the top outbound Washington product (by dollars) was Transport equip. with $45.6B, followed by Mixed freight ($39.9B) and Misc. mfg. prods. ($29B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Washington products.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Washington state.

$323B

2020 Value

$444B

Projected 2045 Value

37.4% growth

In 2020, total outbound Washington trade was $323B. This is expected to increase 37.4% to $444B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Washington trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Washington to other states, or from other states to Washington.

Most Common Trade Partners

  1. Oregon

    $29.1B

  2. California

    $15.8B

  3. Tennessee

    $10.3B

In 2015, the top outbound Washington domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Oregon with $29.1B, followed by California with $15.8B and Tennessee and $10.3B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Washington shares with each state (excluding itself).

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Health

95.1% of the population of Thurston County, WA has health coverage, with 45.6% on employee plans, 13.2% on Medicaid, 11.9% on Medicare, 18.2% on non-group plans, and 6.24% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in the county of Thurston County, WA was $7,913 in 2014. This is a 4% increase from the previous year ($7,609).

Primary care physicians in Thurston County, WA see 1025 patients per year on average, which represents a 2.84% decrease from the previous year (1055 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1356 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 433 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Garfield County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (14%). Additionally, Adams County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (36.4%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

1,025 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio

Primary care physicians in Thurston County, WA see an average of 1,025 patients per year. This represents a 2.84% decrease from the previous year (1,055 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Thurston County, WA in comparison to neighboring states.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

  1. West Virginia

    8.26% of the population affected

  2. Arkansas

    8.13% of the population affected

  3. New Hampshire

    7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

  1. Mississippi

    19.2% of adults

  2. Texas

    17.9% of adults

  3. Louisiana

    17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Washington.

$7,913

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care 

$4,328

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$5,851

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,997

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Washington (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 4%, from $7,609 to $7,913.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Health Care Coverage

4.94%

Uninsured

45.6%

Employer Coverage

13.2%

Medicaid

11.9%

Medicare

18.2%

Non-Group

6.24%

Military or VA

Between 2016 and 2017, the percent of uninsured citizens in Thurston County, WA grew by 7.18% from 4.61% to 4.94%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Thurston County, WA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

  1. Garfield County

    14% prevalence

  2. Pend Oreille County

    13.6% prevalence

  3. Wahkiakum County

    13.4% prevalence

Garfield County has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Washington, at 14%.

The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in Washington by county over multiple years.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Diversity

Thurston County, WA is home to a population of 286k people, from which 96.8% are citizens. As of 2017, 7.37% of Thurston County, WA residents were born outside of the country (20.7k people).

The ethnic composition of the population of Thurston County, WA is composed of 213k White Alone residents (74.4%), 26.3k Hispanic or Latino residents (9.18%), 16.9k Asian Alone residents (5.89%), 15.3k Two or More Races residents (5.35%), 8.49k Black or African American Alone residents (2.96%), 3.23k American Indian & Alaska Native Alone residents (1.13%), 2.64k Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander Alone residents (0.922%), and 415 Some Other Race Alone residents (0.145%).

Age

Age by Nativity

38

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.6

48

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 2.4

In 2018, the median age of all people in Thurston County, WA was 38.8. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 38, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 48. But people in Thurston County, WA are getting getting younger. In 2017, the average age of all Thurston County, WA residents was 39.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

7.37%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

20.7k people

7.42%

2016 Foreign-Born Population

20.4k people

As of 2017, 7.37% of Thurston County, WA residents (20.7k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2016, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Thurston County, WA was 7.42%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Thurston County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the County level, so we are showing data for Washington.

Most Common Origin

  1. Mexico

    256,836 ± 12,228 people

  2. India

    89,091 ± 7,285 people

  3. China

    79,210 ± 6,873 people

In 2018, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Washington was Mexico, the natal country of 256,836 Washington residents, followed by India with 89,091 and China with 79,210.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Citizenship

96.8%

2018 Citizenship

96.6%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 96.8% of Thurston County, WA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Thurston County, WA was 96.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Thurston County, WA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Race and Ethnicity

Most Common

  1. White Alone

    213k ± 367

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    26.3k ± 3.3k

  3. Asian Alone

    16.9k ± 1.47k

In 2018, there were 8.11 times more White Alone residents (213k people) in Thurston County, WA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 26.3k Hispanic or Latino and 16.9k Asian Alone residents, the second and third most common racial or ethnic groups.

The following bar chart shows the 8 races and ethnicities represented in Thurston County, WA as a share of the total population.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

  1. Gulf War (2001-)

    8,344 ± 1,778

  2. Vietnam

    8,287 ± 1,155

  3. Gulf War (1990s)

    4,689 ± 1,146

Thurston County, WA has a large population of military personnel who served in Gulf War (2001-), 1.01 times greater than any other conflict.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Education

In 2017, universities in Thurston County, WA awarded 3,162 degrees. The student population of Thurston County, WA is skewed towards women, with 4,452 male students and 6,071 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Thurston County, WA are White (2,052 and 66.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (299 and 9.66%), Two or More Races (235 and 7.59%), and Unknown (191 and 6.17%).

The largest universities in Thurston County, WA by number of degrees awarded are South Puget Sound Community College (1,498 and 47.4%), The Evergreen State College (1,032 and 32.6%), and Saint Martin's University (512 and 16.2%).

The most popular majors in Thurston County, WA are Liberal Arts & Sciences (1,458 and 46.1%), Biological & Physical Sciences (170 and 5.38%), and Cosmetology, Barber, & Nail Instructor (110 and 3.48%).

The median tuition costs in Thurston County, WA are $35,250 for private four year colleges, and $6,678 and $24,138 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

  1. Biological & Physical Sciences

    170 degrees awarded

  2. General Business Administration & Management

    61 degrees awarded

  3. Liberal Arts & Sciences

    780 degrees awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Thurston County, WA was Biological & Physical Sciences with 170 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Thurston County, WA according to their major.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

  1. South Puget Sound Community College

    1,498 degrees awarded

  2. The Evergreen State College

    1,032 degrees awarded

  3. Saint Martin's University

    512 degrees awarded

$6,678

Median In-State Public

$35,250

Median Private

In 2017, the Thurston County, WA institution with the largest number of graduating students was South Puget Sound Community College with 1,498 degrees awarded.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Student Gender for Common Institutions

1,362

Degrees Awarded to Men

1,800

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 1,362 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Thurston County, WA, which is 0.757 times less than the 1,800 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Thurston County, WA by degrees awarded.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

  1. White

    2,052 degrees awarded

  2. Hispanic or Latino

    299 degrees awarded

  3. Two or More Races

    235 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Thurston County, WA were to White students. These 2,052 degrees mean that there were 6.86 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Hispanic or Latino, with 299 degrees awarded.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Housing & Living

The median property value in Thurston County, WA was $314,900 in 2018, which is 1.37 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $283,400 to $314,900, a 11.1% increase. The homeownership rate in Thurston County, WA is 64.1%, which is higher than the national average of 63.9%. People in Thurston County, WA have an average commute time of 26 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Thurston County, WA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$314,900

2018 Median

± $9,928

$283,400

2017 Median

± $6,496

In 2018, the median property value in Thurston County, WA grew to to $314,900 from the previous year's value of $283,400.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Thurston County, WA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Thurston County, WA the largest share of households have a property value in the $300k - $400k range.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$72,703

Median Household Income

± $3,003

111k

Number of Households

± 5,302

In 2018, the median household income of the 111k households in Thurston County, WA grew to $72,703 from the previous year's value of $71,765.

The following chart displays the households in Thurston County, WA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Property Taxes

$3k+

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Thurston County, WA distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Thurston County, WA the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Rent vs Own

64.1%

2018 Homeownership

66.4%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 64.1% of the housing units in Thurston County, WA were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 66.4%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Thurston County, WA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Commute Time

26 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Thurston County, WA have a longer commute time (26 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.7 minutes). Additionally, 4.05% of the workforce in Thurston County, WA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Thurston County, WA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart
View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

  1. Drove Alone

    77.2%

  2. Carpooled

    11.2%

  3. Worked At Home

    6.4%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Thurston County, WA was Drove Alone (77.2%), followed by those who Carpooled (11.2%) and those who Worked At Home (6.4%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Thurston County, WA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Thurston County, WA have 2 cars, followed by 3 cars.

View Data
Save Image
Add Data to Cart