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Olympia

#1 in Best Places to Live in Thurston County
  • A-
    Overall Grade
  • Town in Washington
  • 197 reviews
    A-
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      B-
    4. Nightlife
      A-
    5. Good for Families
      A-
    6. Diversity
      A-
    7. Jobs
      B-
    8. Weather
      C+
    9. Cost of Living
      C
    10. Health & Fitness
      A
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      A
    View Full Report Card
    Olympia is a town in Washington with a population of 49,928. Olympia is in Thurston County and is one of the best places to live in Washington. Living in Olympia offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents rent their homes. In Olympia there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Olympia and residents tend to lean conservative. The public schools in Olympia are highly rated.
    Population
    49,928

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $265,400
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,031
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Urban Suburban Mix
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      55%
    • Own
      45%
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    Olympia Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      281.2
      282.7
    • Murder
      1.9
      6.1
    • Rape
      80.9
      40.7
    • Robbery
      129
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      714.5
      500.1
    • Theft
      3,073.8
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      392.9
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A-
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      10%
    • 10-17 years
      9%
    • 18-24 years
      10%
    • 25-34 years
      17%
    • 35-44 years
      14%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      13%
    • 65+ years
      16%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      18%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      26%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      34%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      16%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      7%
      13%

    Working in Olympia

    Jobs
    B-
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $55,539
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Olympia
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    Olympia Reviews

    197 reviews
    All Categories
    Olympia is a great city to live in. It rains a lot, but if you do not mind the rain then you would love it here. It is in the middle between the beach and the mountains. There are so many beautiful places to go hiking near Olympia. There are also lots of lakes and rivers for swimming, wishing, or just walking around! The only downside is that downtown Olympia is not very safe. There are lots of homeless people downtown and it is definitely not safe to walk around there alone at nighttime. It is also more expensive to live here than other states or cities in Washington. Much cheaper than Seattle, but still on the expensive side.
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    I’ve lived here for 25years and grew up In the same neighborhood and house from ages 3-19. I grew up in hawks prairie. The part of Olympia that was the boonies. Now??? I can’t recognize my town.I grew up waiting for the right of passage to go to a and to drink coffee and eat French fries at the Reef; a dinner that is open intil 3 am, with the best food!BUT, that is all a thing of the past. I used to feel safe as a young female walking home from DT at any hour day or night. I used to enjoy the luxury of walking everywhere no mater the time because how wonderful and pleasant it was. But now I’m unwilling due to the strangers. The homeless people are not even olympians! You used to know the homeless persons name and be acquainted and if you didn’t see them you would ask the other locals” hey you seen Guitar guy?”We used to have familiar faces and now just strangers,
    OLYMPIA, is always growing and changing! With the times and the growing population is is friendly and welcoming for all walks 9f life! Family's, young students, the retired, even tourists! Thoufh this town is evolving in green technology and in aims to help restore the environment it has history that is always present. Local business have nostalgia of the the loggers and immigrants that built this town, and both to mention the beautiful state capital building over looking capital lake and the Puget sound area.