Thurston County, WA at a glance
Median household income
$96,563$8,047 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Thurston County, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Thurston County, WA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $1,538 | $18,456 | $61,520 | 19.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,682 | $20,184 | $67,280 | 20.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,960 | $23,520 | $78,400 | 24.4% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $2,613 | $31,356 | $104,520 | 32.5% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $3,288 | $39,456 | $131,520 | 40.9% |
Rent in Thurston County, WA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Thurston County, WA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $96,563 a year ($8,047 a month before tax).
What $96,563 leaves after Washington taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Washington tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Washington
Living in Thurston County, WA: common questions
What is the median household income in Thurston County, WA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Thurston County, WA is $96,563 per year (approximately $8,047 per month).
What is the average rent in Thurston County, WA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,538 for a studio, $1,682 for one bedroom, $1,960 for two, $2,613 for three and $3,288 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Thurston County, WA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 3.7% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 103.7, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Thurston County, WA?
To keep a $1,960 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $78,400 a year, or $6,533 a month. That is 81% of what the typical household in Thurston County, WA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Thurston County, WA?
On the local median income of $96,563 ($8,047 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,023 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,414 for everything else and $1,609 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,960 takes 49% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Thurston County, WA?
Homes in Washington paid 14.9¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $134. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.