Centralia, WA Eviction Risk Score Thurston County · Washington · Population 18,830 · Updated
Sub-score breakdown
Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.
Location & regional heat
Heat density reflects surrounding cities. Click any nearby city to compare.
About eviction risk in Centralia, WA
Centralia, WA has an eviction risk score of 5.5 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Thurston County and the state of Washington. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.
Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 32.3% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Centralia is $1,084/month. About 40.0% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.
Economic stress: poverty rate 19.9%, unemployment 4.8%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.
Political climate: In 2020, Thurston County voted Democratic by 18.6 points — classified as moderately tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.
What this score means for landlords
At 5.5/10, Centralia is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.
Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison
| City | Distance | Population | Risk score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fords Prairie, WA | 2.4 mi | 1,823 | 5.5 |
| Chehalis, WA | 4 mi | 7,587 | 5.3 |
| Grand Mound, WA | 5.7 mi | 3,287 | 4.4 |
| Bucoda, WA | 7 mi | 494 | 5.0 |
| Rochester, WA | 8.1 mi | 5,834 | 5.1 |
| Napavine, WA | 9.9 mi | 2,158 | 4.9 |
| Tenino, WA | 10.5 mi | 2,025 | 5.0 |
| Oakville, WA | 14.9 mi | 878 | 5.2 |
Landlord Guides & Research Tools
Deepen your research with these guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each breakdown.
- Eviction Process — Step-by-Step Timeline & Notices
- Eviction Costs Breakdown — Filing Fees to Turnover
- Tenant Screening Protocol — NGP 5-Point System
- Rent Control Coverage — AB 1482 & Local RSOs
- California Tenant Protections — Just Cause & Retaliation
- Washington Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Washington
- Thurston County — compare every city in the county