Lacey, WA Local Data & Statistics

State: WA

Total population: 57,737 Household income: $90,625 Rent: $1,870

Overview

Total population

57,737

Rent

$1,870

Year built

1996

Household income

$90,625

Per capita income

$42,173

Poverty rate

11.6%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

57%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Washington

Total population

57,737

Adults over 25

40,866

Total households

23,430

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$90,625

Per capita income

$42,173

Poverty rate

11.6%

Unemployment rate

4.9%

Rent over 30% of income

57%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,870

Year built

1996

Households that rent

44.1%

Households that own

55.9%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.4

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

67.1%

Black

5.9%

Asian

9.3%

Two or more races

12.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

11.4%

Not Hispanic or Latino

88.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

83.1%

Commute time to work

25 mins

Work from home

16.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

30.2%

High school graduate or GED

22.8%

Some college or associate degree

12.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

34.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lacey, WA with: Washington State United States

Lacey, WA

Total population57,737

Rent$1,870

Year built1996

Household income$90,625

Per capita income$42,173

Poverty rate11.6%

Unemployment rate4.9%

Washington State

Total population7,816,116

Rent$1,760

Year built1985

Household income$98,141

Per capita income$53,744

Poverty rate9.9%

Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLacey, WA	StateWashington	CountryUnited States
Total population	57,737	7,816,116	334,922,499
Rent	$1,870	$1,760	$1,413
Year built	1996	1985	1980
Household income	$90,625	$98,141	$80,734
Per capita income	$42,173	$53,744	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.6%	9.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	4.9%	4.5%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lacey, WA, Washington and United States →

Summary for Lacey, WA

Lacey is located in Washington.

Rent & Income

In Lacey, the typical monthly rent is $1,870 and the typical household income is $90,625. Rent here is higher than both Washington and the U.S., and household income is lower than Washington and higher than the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 11.6%, which is higher than the Washington rate but lower than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 44.1% of households. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is moderate, with about 34.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is higher than both Washington and the national rate.

Lacey, WA — Rent vs Household Income

Lacey, WA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lacey, WA compares in Washington State (25 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,870	16 / 25	from lower rent	$1,117 – $2,857
Household income	$90,625	13 / 25	from higher income	$62,815 – $239,690
Poverty rate	11.6%	13 / 25	from lower poverty	4.3% – 18.6%
Unemployment rate	4.9%	22 / 25	from lower unemployment	2.8% – 6.8%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Washington State with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Lacey, WA

Rent

Rent prices put Lacey in 16th place among 25 large communities in Washington. Across Washington, rents range from $1,117 in Yakima, WA up to $2,857 in Sammamish, WA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Lacey comes in 13th among 25 major places. Across Washington, income levels vary from $62,815 in Yakima, WA to $239,690 in Sammamish, WA.

Poverty rate

Looking at poverty, Lacey ranks 13th out of 25 large places. Statewide poverty rates range from 4.3% in Sammamish, WA to 18.6% in Bellingham, WA.

Unemployment rate

Lacey places 22nd among 25 large communities for unemployment. Statewide figures run from 2.8% to 6.8%.

💰 Rent in Lacey, WA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,870 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lacey, WA

Annual Household Income: $90,625

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lacey, WA

Estimated Rate: 11.6%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lacey, WA

In Lacey, WA, households that rent: 10,323 (44.1%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,323	44.1%
Owner-Occupied	13,107	55.9%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lacey, WA

In Lacey, WA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,882 (57%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,882	57%
Other renter households	4,441	43%
Total renter households	10,323	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lacey, WA

Less than High School: 12,339 people (30.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 9,313 people (22.8%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 5,280 people (12.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 13,934 people (34.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 40,866

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lacey, WA

Estimated Rate: 4.9%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

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ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.