Tumwater, WA

This city of 28,687 residents needs 1,604 more housing units over the next five years. Tumwater is part of the Thurston Regional Planning Council.

Housing snapshot

Population
28,687 (2026)
Households
11,335
Median household income
$106,653 (2026)
Typical home value
$550,294
Owner-occupied
60%
Five-year housing need
1,604 units

Comparison to other Washington municipalities

Tumwater: $106,653 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$34K >$195K
Tumwater: 2.26 jobs to household ratio
<0.12 >2.69
Tumwater: Permits since 2021 represent 10.5% of housing
<0.2% >21.9%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in Tumwater, WA costs $550,294, somewhat above the Washington average of $445,887. At a median household income of $106,653 in Tumwater, WA, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $26,705 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Tumwater, WA has a population of roughly 26,956, growing steadily at 2.2% per year.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Tumwater, WA is a growing community of roughly 11,335 households, with population increasing at 2.2% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

In Tumwater, WA, detached single-family accounts for 63% of the housing stock. Homeownership is the norm in Tumwater, WA, with 60% of units owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Tumwater, WA needs 1,604 new units over the next 5 years.

1,342
Units needed to keep up with expected growth
Projected total household growth from 2026 to 2031.
11.8%
Projected household growth rate
Expected increase in total households from 11,335 in 2026 to 12,677 in 2031.
262
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
34
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 0.6 per 1,000 units.
181
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 3.4%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
47
Substandard housing adjustment
Substandard housing rate is 1.41%. This is above National avg. of 0.98%.
1,604
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
321
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
14.1%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
2.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?