City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Ocean Shores, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ocean Shores - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

7,076
Residents
$62,750
Median income
$378,000
Median home
$1,216
Median rent (state)

Ocean Shores - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ocean Shores places in the 39th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

39th
percentile, household income
75th
percentile, home value
37th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ocean Shores, WA

Washington's Ocean Shores is a small town, with 7,076 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $62,750 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.1%. Typical homes in Ocean Shores are valued around $378,000, and the median resident age is 64.0 years. 22.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 35.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 162 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Slowing), down 10% from five years earlier.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 107.0 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,216 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Washington run around $188, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 97.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

7,076 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$62,750 /yr

Poverty 7.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Ocean Shores compare to other US cities?

Where Ocean Shores sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 39% higher than other cities
Home value 75% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ocean Shores's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Washington, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

39thIncome percentile

39th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Ocean Shores's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$378,000 25th percentile more affordable than 25% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ocean Shores $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ocean Shores, WA Ocean Shores, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ocean Shores, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ocean Shores, WA median $62,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ocean Shores, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ocean Shores, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 22.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 35.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
7,076
Median Income
$62,750
Median Home Value
$378,000
Median Age
64.0
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Labor force participation
35.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
22.2%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
6,500 residents7,000 residents7,500 residents8,000 residents8,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 6,775 residents 7,892 residents ▲ +16.5%
Ocean Shores's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
162
housing units authorized
Single-Family
129
detached homes
Multifamily
33
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
22.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 181
2020 223
2021 244
2022 216
2023 129
2024 162

Permit volume decreased 10% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
58.3%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
9.5%
Work from Home
17.0%
Other
5.2%

Based on 2,350 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ocean Shores sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,216/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
97.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Fircrest
7,082 people
Pacific
7,064 people
Woods Creek
7,027 people
Clover Creek
7,128 people
Clarkston Heights-Vineland
7,144 people
Parkwood
6,976 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ocean Shores's 7,076 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Benton, IL
7,076 people
West Miami, FL
7,077 people
Logan, OH
7,077 people
Winsted, CT
7,074 people
South Monrovia Island, CA
7,072 people
Mecca, CA
7,071 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ocean Shores's $62,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Portal, GA
$62,750 median income
Ualapue, HI
$62,750 median income
Pierron, IL
$62,750 median income
San Pierre, IN
$62,750 median income
La Porte City, IA
$62,750 median income
Center, MO
$62,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ocean Shores, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ocean Shores, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 88.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 3.0% American Indian 2.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 4.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ocean Shores compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ocean Shores (this city) 7,076 $62,750
Fircrest 7,082 $107,781
Pacific 7,064 $102,976
Woods Creek 7,027 $145,773
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ocean Shores, WA?

What is the population of Ocean Shores, WA? +

The population of Ocean Shores, WA stands at 7,076 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ocean Shores, WA? +

The median household income in Ocean Shores is $62,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ocean Shores? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ocean Shores; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Ocean Shores, WA? +

A typical home in Ocean Shores is worth $378,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.