What it's like to live in Olympia
Olympia is a smaller city in Washington with commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Olympia deals with home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
The not so good
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- High student-teacher ratio
- High rent burden for renters
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Olympia compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Olympia
Based on Olympia's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,198
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $63,960 a year
- 57% of Olympia renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$97,240
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,620
- Homes cost 6.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 13% above US
$1,599/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,599 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $486,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $486,200 · 57% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.3% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.3%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 44% above US
475 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2596/100k · Olympia Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 26% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 75°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 33°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 44% above US
52% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
16 public schools inside the boundary
There are 16 public schools inside the boundary and 7 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park (47 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Olympia's strongest points are commutes that run shorter than most cities and a highly educated workforce; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,599/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (26% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals.
Other places near Olympia
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