Cost of Living in Thurston County, Washington
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Thurston County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Thurston County ranks #3,016 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 4%)
Sourced county brief
Thurston County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,736 Monthly
The median gross rent in Thurston County was estimated at $1,736 per month, which is $485 above the Washington unweighted county mean of $1,251. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 32.3%, which differs from the state unweighted county mean of 29.7% by 2.6 percentage points. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,814, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,320. The median home value in Thurston County was $480,300, while the state unweighted county mean was $436,313. Renter households reported a median income of $62,625. The canonical rent-to-income percentage of 32.3% is reported as the official ACS B25071 GRAPI for the jurisdiction. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Thurston County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.3% of renter household income in Thurston County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,736 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,814. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $69,440 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Washington unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,251 per month. Thurston County's $1,736 median is 38.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Thurston County
Rent Burden
21.6%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,253
per month
Owner Cost Burden
22.5%
of gross income
The median home in Thurston County may be a stretch
Median home value is $480,300. Estimated monthly cost: $3,834 vs. your max of $2,253.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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