The Town FilesOcean Shores, Washington
City in Grays Harbor County · population 6,715 (2020 Census)
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- Median home
- $383,500
- Household income
- $58,202
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 67°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 63.9
Ocean Shores is a city of 6,715 people in Grays Harbor County, Washington. The median home is worth $383,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks better for cycling than 100% of Washington towns, better for a vacation home than 93% of Washington towns, quieter than 88% of Washington towns.
How Ocean Shores ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Ocean Shores is worth $383,500, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $58,202, which is more affordable than 17% of Washington towns. Median rent is $1,284 a month. 83.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ocean Shores | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $383,500 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $1,284 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $58,202 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 83.3% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1997 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 30.0% | — |
Who lives in Ocean Shores
| People | Ocean Shores | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.9 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.5% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 7.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 17.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 20.3% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 93.9% |
Weather in Ocean Shores
July highs average 67.0°F and January lows 38.0°F. About 68.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 26 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ocean Shores since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on December 22, 1997 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 22, 1997.
Severe weather in Grays Harbor County since 1996
Grays Harbor County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County had 23,816 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,803 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Ocean Shores itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Ocean Shores
3 public schools with 588 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Shores Elementary | PK-6 | 286 | 15.9 |
| North Beach Senior High School | 9-12 | 201 | 20.1 |
| North Beach Junior High School | 7-8 | 101 | 12.6 |
Towns near Ocean Shores
- Hoquiam, WA11.2 mi · 8,776 people · home $228,200
- Aberdeen, WA15.8 mi · 17,013 people · home $237,300
- Central Park, WA21.0 mi · 2,841 people · home $335,500
- Montesano, WA26.7 mi · 4,138 people · home $354,300
- Raymond, WA27.4 mi · 3,081 people · home $267,500
Ocean Shores questions
Is Ocean Shores, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ocean Shores scores better for retirees than 86% of Washington towns and quieter than 88%. 46.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.9).
How much does a house cost in Ocean Shores?
The median owner-occupied home in Ocean Shores is valued at $383,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,202, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $1,284 a month.
What is the weather like in Ocean Shores?
July highs average 67.0°F and January lows 38.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 68.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Ocean Shores get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ocean Shores since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on December 22, 1997. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)