What it's like to live in Tumwater
Tumwater is a small city in Washington with household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, a highly educated workforce, and a growing population. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tumwater deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, larger class sizes than the national average, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- High student-teacher ratio
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Tumwater compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tumwater
Based on Tumwater's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,558
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $71,160 a year
- 49% of Tumwater renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$94,440
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,220
- Homes cost 5.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 26% above US
$1,779/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,779 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $472,200. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $472,200 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
3.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.9%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 14% below US
283 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1490/100k · Tumwater Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 18% below US
21 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 21.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 28% 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
Education & workforce▲ 19% above US
43% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 43% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
14 public schools inside the boundary
There are 14 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, 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 (50 miles away). There are 7 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Tumwater's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,779/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (28% of workers here already work from home), people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Tumwater
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