City · 57,737 residents · Thurston County, Washington
Lacey, Washington
In Lacey, a typical home is worth $457,100 and typical rent is $1,870 a month. Compared with all of Thurston County, typical rent is 8% higher, typical household income is 6% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $456,404 to $507,213.
Typical rent
$2,075a month
▲ 2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,759 to $2,075.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lacey is in Thurston County. The FHA loan limit ($586,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Thurston County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
56% of households in Lacey own their home, against 68% in Thurston County.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lacey
What homes there are in Lacey, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Kind of home: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Detached house
59%
67%
62%
61%
Attached house
8%
4%
4%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
8%
6%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
21%
15%
22%
19%
Mobile home
4%
8%
6%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Detached houses are the majority in Lacey (59%), but less so than in Thurston County (67%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Year built: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Before 1960
5%
12%
21%
26%
1960–1979
20%
22%
23%
24%
1980–1999
32%
32%
27%
25%
2000–2009
21%
19%
15%
14%
2010 or later
22%
16%
14%
11%
Homes in Lacey are newer: the typical year built is 1996; in Thurston County, 1991.
In Lacey, 13% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 59% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 65% in Thurston County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K5%
$100K–$200K3%
$200K–$300K6%
$300K–$500K52%
$500K–$750K30%
FHA limit: $586,500
$750K–$1M3%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Under $100K
5%
$100K–$200K
3%
$200K–$300K
6%
$300K–$500K
52%
$500K–$750K
30%
$750K–$1M
3%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Thurston County is $586,500, and about 76% of owner-occupied homes in Lacey are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49917%
$1,500–$1,99938%
$2,000–$2,49922%
$2,500–$2,99912%
$3,000 or more7%
Monthly rent with utilities: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
17%
$1,500–$1,999
38%
$2,000–$2,499
22%
$2,500–$2,999
12%
$3,000 or more
7%
With a mortgage
$2,195 a month
Thurston County: $2,288 a month
Without a mortgage
$717 a month
Thurston County: $753 a month
Owners with a mortgage
67%
Thurston County: 67%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Lacey is $2,195 a month, near the figure in Thurston County ($2,288).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lacey+74%
Thurston County+67%
Washington+67%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lacey+40%
Thurston County+43%
Washington+40%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lacey+34%
Thurston County+34%
Washington+33%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Typical home value
+74%
+67%
+67%
+53%
Typical rent
+40%
+43%
+40%
+33%
Typical household income
+34%
+34%
+33%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Lacey rose 74%; in Thurston County, it rose 67%.
Much as in Thurston County, the typical rent in Lacey rose 40% since 2015–2019.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Lacey: typical income rose 34%, against +74% for home values and +40% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lacey and its comparisons
Measure
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
United States
Rental vacancy
5.6%
4.0%
4.5%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
1.0%
0.7%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
1.9%
3.5%
3.4%
People per household
2.41
2.48
2.50
2.53
Drive alone
70%
67%
63%
69%
Carpool
9%
8%
9%
9%
Public transit
2%
1%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
2%
3%
4%
3%
Work from home
17%
21%
20%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
There is more rental housing open in Lacey: 5.6% is empty and offered for rent, against 4.0% in Thurston County.
A household in Lacey has 2.41 people on average, about the same as in Thurston County (2.48).
The car rules in Lacey: 70% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 20 to 29 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lacey?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Lacey, worth $457,100, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Lacey, which is $90,625 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $160,683 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Thurston County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Lacey. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $15,999 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$3,749
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$448,820
Total interest
$645,747
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $7,719 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,115 a month
Tight
$2,115 to $2,719 a month
Hard
more than $2,719 a month
Your payment · 50%
Compared with the typical household income in Lacey ($90,625 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,040
Property tax
$316
Home insurance
$191
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$202
You need at least $15,999 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $3,749; principal and interest $3,040.
The city and its county
Lacey and Thurston County
Lacey is in Thurston County, Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Lacey
Map of Thurston County, Washington, with Lacey marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lacey
Thurston County
Other cities with a page
Lacey's own numbers
Typical home value
$457,100
Typical monthly rent
$1,870
Typical yearly household income
$90,625
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Thurston County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$586,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,946
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+48%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Thurston County.
A typical home in Lacey is worth $457,100: 5% below the county and 19% below Washington. With the typical household income in Lacey ($90,625 a year), a typical home costs 5.0 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Lacey5.0 years
Thurston5.0 years
Washington5.8 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Thurston County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Thurston County rose 121% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Thurston County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Thurston County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +7.4% +7.4% 2016
2017: +9.7% +9.7% 2017
2018: +10.2% +10.2% 2018
2019: +7.1% +7.1% 2019
2020: +7.2% +7.2% 2020
2021: +16.1% +16.1% 2021
2022: +17.6% +17.6% 2022
2023: +1.5% +1.5% 2023
2024: +4.6% +4.6% 2024
2025: +2.3% +2.3% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Thurston County, Washington and the United States
Period
County
Washington
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.3%
+1.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+48%
+44%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+121%
+113%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Lacey next to Thurston County, Washington and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Lacey$457,100
Thurston$480,300
Washington$564,600
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lacey$1,870
Thurston$1,736
Washington$1,760
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lacey$90,625
Thurston$96,563
Washington$98,141
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lacey next to Thurston County and Washington
Measure
Lacey
Thurston County
Washington
U.S.
Typical home value
$457,100 ▼5% below the county
$480,300
$564,600
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,870 ▲8% above the county
$1,736
$1,760
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$90,625 ▼6% below the county
$96,563
$98,141
$80,734
Households that own their home
56% ▼12 points below the county
68%
64%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$3,774 ▼10% below the county
$4,209
$4,556
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.83% ▼0.05 points below the county
0.88%
0.81%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
58% ▲2 points above the county
55%
50%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Thurston County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lacey
For a typical $457,100 home in Lacey, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lacey's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$3,749a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$15,999
Cash to close
$29,712
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $202
Conventional, 5% down$3,665a month
Down payment
$22,855
Cash to close
$36,568
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $217
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$2,984a month
Down payment
$91,420
Cash to close
$105,133
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$3,406a month
Down payment
$68,565
Cash to close
$82,278
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lacey
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$3,749
$15,999
$448,821
7.18%
FHA MIP · $202
$29,712
580
Conventional, 5% down
$3,665
$22,855
$434,245
7.18%
PMI · $217
$36,568
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$2,984
$91,420
$365,680
7.18%
None
$105,133
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$3,406
$68,565
$388,535
8.18%
None
$82,278
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Lacey is $1,870 a month: 8% above the county. In Lacey, 58% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Thurston County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,946 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $37.42 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Thurston County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,586
$30.50
$63,440
1 bedroom
$1,656
$31.85
$66,240
2 bedrooms
$1,946
$37.42
$77,840
3 bedrooms
$2,541
$48.87
$101,640
4 bedrooms
$3,141
$60.40
$125,640
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Lacey
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Lacey has 2 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,960 in 98503 to $2,280 in 98516.
2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Thurston County ($1,946).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Lacey, fiscal year 2027.
98503
$1,600
$1,670
$1,960
$2,560
$3,160
98516
$1,860
$1,940
$2,280
$2,980
$3,680
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
98503 $1,960$2,560
98516 $2,280$2,980
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Lacey when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lacey. These are the largest.
Reserve at Lacey6100 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey 98503241 homes, 239 low-income · Studio: 1 · 1 bd: 119 · 2 bd: 121 · In service since 2020 · For older adults
Copper Wood Apartments110 Copper Wood Ln SE, Lacey 98516228 homes, 225 low-income · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 124 · 3 bd: 44 · 4 bd: 12 · In service since 2018 · For people with disabilities, families
College Glen4870 55th Ln SE, Lacey 98503164 homes, 161 low-income · 2 bd: 96 · 3 bd: 68 · In service since 1996 · For people with disabilities, families
Forest Grove Apartments5701 30th Ave SE, Lacey 98503116 homes, 115 low-income · 2 bd: 104 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2000 · For people with disabilities
South Sound Villa Apartments4101 Lacey Blvd SE, Lacey 9850370 low-income homes · For older adults(360) 459-8792
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Thurston County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lacey or Thurston County. The ones below are statewide in Washington: they work in Lacey the same as in the rest of the state.
Washington state commission 0% second mortgage for 3%, 4% or 5% of the first mortgage, with no monthly payments; you do not need to be a first-time buyer.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan with no monthly payments of up to 20% of the price (maximum $150,000) plus closing costs, for first-time buyers whose family lived in Washington before 1968 and belonged to a group affected by housing discrimination, including Hispanic people.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
Washington state commission loan of up to $15,000 at 1% simple interest, with no monthly payments, for the down payment and closing costs of first-time buyers with the House Key Opportunity mortgage.Offered by Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
No legal help resource on our list is for Lacey or Thurston County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Lacey and all of Thurston County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Lacey?
The typical home value in Lacey is $457,100, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Thurston County it is $480,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Lacey?
Typical rent in Lacey is $1,870 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Thurston County is $1,946.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lacey?
Lacey uses the FHA limit for all of Thurston County (2026): $586,500 for a one-unit home and $1,127,900 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lacey?
The typical homeowner in Lacey pays $3,774 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Thurston County, the rate is 0.88%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lacey?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Thurston County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
