What the Thurston County Chamber Quality of Life Index Found
Aug 28, 2026, 9:42 AM
South Sound Business
Originally published on South Sound Business.
Concerns about Thurston County’s business climate, financial stability, and affordability were reflected in the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Quality of Life Index.
For the third consecutive year, residents gave Thurston County an overall C+ as a place to live. Among the key findings were:
The business climate grade fell from 2.17 to 1.81, a 0.36-point decline — the largest drop among the 20 categories measured, after holding steady for the previous two years.Seventy-four percent of respondents said recent price increases have caused financial hardship for their household, including 23% who described the hardship as “severe” and affecting their standard of living.The composite GPA for community attributes declined from 2.12 in 2025 to 1.89, returning to the 2024 level.The composite grade point average for nine local government services fell from 2.26 in 2025 to 2.09 in 2026.
The survey also found growing uncertainty about the future. A majority of respondents said they expect conditions to worsen over the next year in both Thurston County and their community. Fewer than half expect conditions to improve in their household, marking the first time positive household expectations have fallen below 60%. At the same time, the percentage of residents who expect things to get worse for their household has risen from 18% to 44% over the past two years.
When asked in an open-ended question to identify Thurston County’s most pressing issue, respondents once again cited the same four issues that have topped the list every year since 2024: affordability, homelessness, crime, and taxes.
Elway Research designed, administered, and analyzed the annual survey. In June, 500 Thurston County residents, randomly selected from the list of registered voters, participated via telephone and online. Respondents were asked to evaluate a range of local government services and community attributes using letter grades, “as they do in school.”
For a comprehensive analysis of the survey and its findings, visit the Thurston Chamber’s website.
