HomeWashingtonLewis County
Lewis County, Washington: commercial real estate data.
Lewis County, Washington had an estimated 87,049 residents on July 1, 2024, up 6.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 82,151, across 2,403 square miles. County output reached $5.12 bn in 2024, 1,990 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 94 7(a) approvals worth $54.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lewis County
How many people live in Lewis County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202485,154
- Households32,916
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$74,796
- Median age42.2
- Median gross rent$1,097 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$385,800
- Home value to household income5.2 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher21.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree7.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over60,791
- Population under 1818,423
- Share under 1821.6 percent
- Population 65 and over18,211
- Share 65 and over21.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6448,520
- Civilian labor force38,338
- Unemployment rate5.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.5 percent
- Rank by population among Washington counties16th of 39
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included688th of 3,222
Lewis County is the 16th largest of 39 Washington counties by population. A median home costs 5.2 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.6 percent against 21.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lewis County
Is Lewis County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202487,049
- Census 2020 base population82,151
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.96 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024785
- Births, 2024947
- Deaths, 20241,127
- Natural change, 2024-180
- Net domestic migration, 2024775
- Net international migration, 2024198
- Total net migration, 2024973
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20244,910
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents416th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.96 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lewis County
Where are people moving to Lewis County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,520
- People arriving, from those returns4,668
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,252
- Net household movement268
- Adjusted gross income arriving$164.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$36.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$65,319
- Average income of a leaving household$56,731
- Largest single originThurston County (616 households)
- Largest single destinationThurston County (538 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston County | 616 | 1,126 | $39.2 m |
| Pierce County | 302 | 590 | $20.8 m |
| King County | 194 | 333 | $16.0 m |
| Cowlitz County | 164 | 317 | $9.0 m |
| Clark County | 140 | 321 | $11.1 m |
| Grays Harbor County | 74 | 113 | $3.8 m |
| Snohomish County | 74 | 119 | $4.5 m |
| Kitsap County | 40 | 98 | $3.2 m |
Households arriving report $8,588 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Thurston County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lewis County
What is the Lewis County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.12 bn
- County GDP, 2023$4.78 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years39.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Washington areas BEA publishes16th of 39
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes710th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$60,154
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 39.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lewis County
Employment by industry in Lewis County
- Covered employment, annual average27,148
- Establishments reporting2,236
- Average annual pay$58,706
- Average weekly wage$1,129
- Health care and social assistance, employment4,235
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$64,511
- Retail trade, employment3,644
- Retail trade, average annual pay$44,993
- Manufacturing, employment3,204
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$71,294
- Accommodation and food services, employment2,538
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$26,795
- Wholesale trade, employment1,472
- Construction, employment1,374
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 4,235 | 210 | $64,511 |
| Retail trade | 3,644 | 299 | $44,993 |
| Manufacturing | 3,204 | 99 | $71,294 |
| Accommodation and food services | 2,538 | 221 | $26,795 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,472 | 103 | $70,038 |
| Construction | 1,374 | 301 | $62,919 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,371 | 83 | $61,545 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 928 | 120 | $50,219 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,235 jobs, 15.6 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lewis County
How many businesses are in Lewis County?
- Establishments, all industries1,990
- Employment at those establishments22,275
- Annual payroll$1.18 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lewis County
Building permits in Lewis County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024265
- Declared construction value permitted$54.5 m
- Single family units authorized196
- Multifamily units authorized69
- Multifamily share of units26.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$205,675
- Units authorized per 1,000 households8.1
Single-family homes are 74.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lewis County
SBA loans in Lewis County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded94
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$54.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$579,770
- Median 7(a) approval$269,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,635,000
- Largest single approval$3,760,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)720
- Jobs per approval7.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active31
- Distinct industries receiving approvals55
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer33.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms31
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter62
- Franchise loans12
- Franchise share of approvals12.8 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (7)
- Most active lenderColumbia Bank (17)
- 504 approvals recorded21
- 504 gross approval dollars$15.5 m
- Average 504 approval$737,143
- Median 504 approval$488,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval8.9
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.1
- Most active CDCEvergreen Business Capital (12)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$70.0 m
The average approval of $579,770 sits well above the median of $269,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 33.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lewis County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lewis County
Do SBA loans in Lewis County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure60
- Status: Cancelled17
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed5
Only 12 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lewis County
SBA lending by place in Lewis County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending18
- Chehalis, approvals33
- Centralia, approvals26
- Randle, approvals5
- Onalaska, approvals4
- Toledo, approvals4
- Packwood, approvals3
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Chehalis | 33 | $14,288,400 |
| Centralia | 26 | $13,001,800 |
| Randle | 5 | $6,053,700 |
| Onalaska | 4 | $6,675,000 |
| Toledo | 4 | $2,839,700 |
| Packwood | 3 | $4,095,000 |
| Winlock | 3 | $2,013,000 |
| Morton | 3 | $1,253,900 |
| 10 other borrower cities | 13 | $4,277,900 |
Chehalis accounts for 33 approvals against 26 in Centralia. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lewis County
How large is Lewis County?
- Land area2,403 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Washington counties6th of 39
- Width, east to west96 mi
- Height, north to south28.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary8
- Residents per square mile of land35
- Establishments per square mile0.83
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lewis County
Flood risk in Lewis County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lewis County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 530102
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 5
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP9
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Lewis County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Lewis County (community 530102), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 5, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Lewis County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lewis County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lewis County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202485,154
- Households32,916
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$74,796
- Median age42.2
Common questions
Lewis County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lewis County, Washington?
The Census Bureau estimates 87,049 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 85,154, in 32,916 households, ranking 16th of 39 Washington counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lewis County's population growing?
The population has grown 5.96 percent since the 2020 census base of 82,151, to 87,049 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 947 births against 1,127 deaths, with net migration of 973. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lewis County?
$74,796. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $385,800, which is 5.2 times income, and median gross rent is $1,097 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lewis County?
1,990 establishments, employing 22,275 people with an annual payroll of $1.18 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lewis County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 4,235 jobs, 15.6 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 27,148 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,706, or $1,129 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lewis County?
94 7(a) approvals totaling $54.5 m since FY2020, across 31 lenders, with a median approval of $269,000, plus 21 504 approvals worth $15.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lewis County?
265 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $54.5 m. Multifamily was 26.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lewis County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lewis County come from?
The largest single origin is Thurston County, with 616 households. Arriving households report an average income of $65,319 against $56,731 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lewis County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lewis County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lewis County
Cities and places in Lewis.
13 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lewis County. All 13 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia | city | 18,830 | 26 | Wholly in this county |
| Chehalis | city | 7,587 | 33 | Wholly in this county |
| Napavine | city | 2,158 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Winlock | city | 2,140 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Fords Prairie | CDP | 1,823 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Morton | city | 1,206 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Mossyrock | city | 875 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Onalaska | CDP | 848 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Vader | city | 745 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Toledo | city | 542 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Pe Ell | town | 538 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Packwood | CDP | 99 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Mineral | CDP | 7 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 13 of the county's 94 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lewis County, the largest being Randle (5), Ethel (2), Glenoma (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.