County profile · Washington
Thurston County, WA market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in Thurston County, each scored against other counties.
- Population, 2025
- 304,261
- +2.8% since 2020
- Households
- 118,899
- Median household income
- $96,563
- +34.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $480,300
- Jobs located here
- 136,091
- Highest market score
- 83
- Tire shops, #57 of 1,530 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Thurston County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Thurston County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 304,261 people live in Thurston County, in 118,899 households. Population estimates put the population change in Thurston County from 2020 to 2025 at +2.8%, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in Thurston County is $96,563 a year, 20% above the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 34.1% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in Thurston County spend the most on child care and other personal services (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (93).
The highest Groundwork market scores in Thurston County are for tire shops (83), gyms (82) and convenience stores (82). Thurston County ranks #57 of 1,530 scored counties for tire shops.
Thurston County is part of the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater metro area. For its number of households, Thurston County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for home inspectors (67% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing and shoe stores (47% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Thurston County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Thurston County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tire shops | 83 | #57 of 1,530 | 24 | 2.0 | $5.6M | 222 | 15 |
| Gyms | 82 | #48 of 1,792 | 77 | 6.5 | $1.9M | 145 | 24 |
| Convenience stores | 82 | #128 of 2,261 | 64 | 5.4 | $11.8M | 150 | 20 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 80 | #54 of 1,302 | 32 | 2.7 | $5.1M | 163 | 15 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 80 | #67 of 1,327 | 23 | 1.9 | $5.8M | 188 | 25 |
| Pizza | 79 | #95 of 2,090 | 65 | 5.5 | $7.8M | 154 | 193 |
| Auto repair shops | 79 | #130 of 2,378 | 182 | 15.3 | $733K | 165 | 93 |
| Auto repair and car care | 79 | #141 of 2,401 | 311 | 26.2 | $429K | 160 | 139 |
| Funeral homes | 78 | #84 of 1,472 | 7 | 0.6 | $2.4M | 359 | 7 |
| Barbershops | 78 | #97 of 1,356 | 51 | 4.3 | $2.5M | 134 | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | 77 | #36 of 777 | 25 | 2.1 | $5.8M | 143 | 24 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 77 | #239 of 2,402 | 163 | 13.7 | $4.6M | 137 | 70 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | 75 | #24 of 325 | 5 | 0.4 | $32.6M | 133 | 5 |
| Laundromats | 75 | #96 of 785 | 5 | 0.4 | $45.6M | 364 | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | 74 | #141 of 1,451 | 42 | 3.5 | $3.2M | 126 | 17 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 74 | #254 of 2,222 | 135 | 11.4 | $3.8M | 123 | 193 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 74 | #271 of 2,405 | 496 | 41.7 | $1M | 154 | 191 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 73 | #180 of 2,088 | 153 | 12.9 | $947K | 143 | 57 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 71 | #144 of 1,334 | 51 | 4.3 | $2.8M | 141 | 33 |
| Gas stations | 71 | #372 of 2,358 | 119 | 10.0 | $2.8M | 119 | 83 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 70 | #216 of 1,707 | 72 | 6.1 | $4.9M | 104 | 76 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #308 of 1,611 | 76 | 6.4 | $1.2M | 117 | 76 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 68 | #431 of 2,087 | 102 | 8.6 | $2.2M | 176 | 60 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 68 | #450 of 2,405 | 1,051 | 88.4 | $484K | 130 | 493 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 67 | #313 of 1,656 | 57 | 4.8 | $2.9M | 161 | 172 |
| Grocery stores | 67 | #483 of 2,070 | 70 | 5.9 | $10.8M | 116 | 50 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 66 | #482 of 2,210 | 147 | 12.4 | $1.6M | 176 | 78 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 64 | #412 of 1,889 | 72 | 6.1 | $7.1M | 170 | 115 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 61 | #453 of 1,461 | 56 | 4.7 | $2.3M | 89 | 31 |
| Hair salons | 61 | #633 of 2,339 | 235 | 19.8 | $548K | 127 | 94 |
| Electricians | 60 | #364 of 1,160 | 32 | 2.7 | $11.1M | 93 | 78 |
| Home repair trades | 60 | #590 of 2,057 | 151 | 12.7 | $2.4M | 97 | 189 |
| Property management | 59 | #300 of 910 | 32 | 2.7 | Index only | 126 | 75 |
| Oil change and quick lube | 58 | #176 of 479 | 9 | 0.8 | $14.8M | 108 | 12 |
| Pet stores | 58 | #354 of 974 | 30 | 2.5 | $4.2M | 93 | 12 |
| Insurance agencies | 58 | #853 of 2,272 | 158 | 13.3 | $1.5M | 119 | 84 |
| Dry cleaners | 57 | #187 of 507 | 8 | 0.7 | $28.5M | 182 | 18 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 57 | #537 of 1,493 | 71 | 6.0 | $2.3M | 79 | 100 |
| Spas and skin care | 57 | #636 of 1,769 | 152 | 12.8 | $847K | 97 | 21 |
| Pet businesses | 56 | #825 of 2,200 | 166 | 14.0 | $761K | 87 | 93 |
| Pest control | 55 | #291 of 699 | 21 | 1.8 | $7.9M | 77 | 11 |
| Veterinarians | 55 | #616 of 1,485 | 55 | 4.6 | $2.3M | 84 | 50 |
| Roofing and gutters | 51 | #574 of 1,177 | 47 | 4.0 | $7.6M | 89 | 35 |
| Nail salons | 50 | #700 of 1,328 | 69 | 5.8 | $1.9M | 112 | 54 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 50 | #1,057 of 2,176 | 337 | 28.3 | Index only | 122 | 140 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 50 | #1,176 of 2,385 | 520 | 43.7 | $248K | 116 | 174 |
| Physical therapy | 49 | #738 of 1,422 | 71 | 6.0 | $2.3M | 96 | 66 |
| Home inspectors | 47 | #223 of 415 | 12 | 1.0 | Index only | 71 | 11 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 47 | #1,333 of 2,394 | 898 | 75.5 | $182K | 119 | 462 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 46 | #1,022 of 1,771 | 125 | 10.5 | $1.3M | 79 | 200 |
| Real estate | 46 | #1,307 of 2,229 | 455 | 38.3 | Index only | 114 | 270 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 44 | #555 of 887 | 74 | 6.2 | Index only | 78 | 28 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 42 | #1,233 of 1,886 | 165 | 13.9 | $989K | 101 | 137 |
| House cleaning | 39 | #618 of 847 | 33 | 2.8 | $5M | 78 | 89 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 39 | #1,451 of 2,063 | 192 | 16.1 | $2.6M | 71 | 105 |
| Chiropractors | 38 | #1,078 of 1,490 | 104 | 8.7 | $1.6M | 66 | 67 |
Household spending in Thurston County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $133.4M | $1,122 | 117 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $336.5M | $2,830 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $508.3M | $4,275 | 105 |
| Groceries | $756.5M | $6,362 | 101 |
| Personal care products and services | $128.7M | $1,083 | 108 |
| Child care and other personal services | $88.8M | $747 | 129 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $144.8M | $1,218 | 124 |
| Medical and dental services | $163.2M | $1,373 | 107 |
| Pets | $126.4M | $1,063 | 117 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $227.9M | $1,917 | 93 |
| Vehicle insurance | $236.7M | $1,991 | 102 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $355.6M | $2,991 | 99 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $165.2M | $1,390 | 98 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $2.2B | $18,912 | 114 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Thurston County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 304,261+2.8% since 2020
- Households
- 118,899
- Median age
- 40.9
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 68%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 723 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 414
- Median household income
- $96,563+34.1% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $114,140
- Median home value
- $480,300
- Jobs located here
- 136,091
- Daytime population
- 311,425Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Thurston County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Thurston County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Washington 8
- Mason County, WA67,982 people
- Pierce County, WA930,319 people
- Lewis County, WA85,154 people
- Kitsap County, WA277,881 people
- Grays Harbor County, WA77,053 people
- King County, WA2,287,171 people
- Pacific County, WA23,994 people
- Wahkiakum County, WA4,658 people
Questions
How fast is Thurston County, WA growing?
Population estimates put Thurston County at 304,261 people in 2025, up 2.8% since 2020, in step with the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 118,899 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 34.1%, before inflation.
How much do households in Thurston County, WA spend?
Households in Thurston County spend about $2.2B a year on rent and homeowner costs, $756.5M on groceries and $508.3M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in Thurston County runs highest on child care and other personal services (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (93).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Thurston County, WA?
Of the business types scored in Thurston County, tire shops (83), gyms (82) and convenience stores (82) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For tire shops, that ranks #57 of 1,530 scored counties.
How does Thurston County, WA compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in Thurston County is $96,563, 20% above the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.8% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $480,300, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for home inspectors (67% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing and shoe stores (47% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. All 56 business types have a score in Thurston County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Thurston County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Washington · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Thurston County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Thurston County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.