What are the schools like in Olympia, WA?

Olympia is served primarily by Olympia School District. The district operates 11 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 4 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.8:1.

What is the median household income in Olympia?

The median household income in Olympia, WA is $73,851 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Olympia, WA?

Olympia has an average high temperature of 46.0°F in January and 77.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 3.9 inches.

Olympia, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Olympia, WA affordable or expensive?

Olympia's cost of living index is 107, where 100 represents the national average. This means Olympia is 7% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $409,700 and the median rent is $1,437 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Olympia, WA?

Olympia has a violent crime rate of 564.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3435.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Olympia, WA a Good Place to Live?

Olympia is a mid-sized city of 55,151 in Washington, with a median household income of $73,851 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is 7% above the national average.

Strengths: Olympia stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices, a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Olympia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Olympia city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 106.9

Olympia's overall cost of living index is 106.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Olympia costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.

Metric	Olympia, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$409,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,437	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	48.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,851	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Olympia's violent crime rate is 564.8 per 100,000 residents — 49% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

564.8 /100k

Property Crime

3435.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Olympia is served primarily by Olympia School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Olympia, WA	National Avg
School District	Olympia School District	—
Elementary Schools	11	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	4	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Olympia sees average highs of 46.0°F in January and 77.6°F in July, with 59.0 inches of annual precipitation and 3.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Olympia, WA
Average High — January	46.0°F
Average High — July	77.6°F
Annual Precipitation	59.0"
Annual Snowfall	3.9"

Demographics

Metric	Olympia, WA	National Avg
Population	55,151	—
Median Age	38.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	7.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.1%	22.2%
65 and over	19.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Tumwater, WA 4 mi Lacey, WA 5 mi Tanglewilde, WA 5 mi Nisqually Indian Community, WA 10 mi DuPont, WA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Olympia

Olympia, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

98502 98506

Olympia vs Other Cities

Olympia, WA vs Tumwater, WA Olympia, WA vs Lacey, WA Olympia, WA vs Tanglewilde, WA Olympia, WA vs Nisqually Indian Community, WA Olympia, WA vs DuPont, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olympia, WA affordable or expensive?

Olympia's cost of living index is 107, where 100 is the national average. That puts Olympia roughly 7% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $409,700 and median rent is $1,437/month.

What is the crime rate in Olympia, WA?

Olympia's violent crime rate is 564.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3435.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Olympia?

Public schools in Olympia are operated by Olympia School District. The district has 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.8:1. 47.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Olympia, WA a good place to live?

Olympia, WA has a population of 55,151, a median household income of $73,851, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Olympia?

Olympia averages 46.0°F in January and 77.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.0 inches with about 3.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Olympia?

Olympia, WA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 98502, 98506.

What is the population of Olympia?

The population of Olympia, Washington is 55,151 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Olympia?

Key numbers for living in Olympia: cost of living index 107 (100 = US average), median home $409,700, median household income $73,851, crime index 155 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Olympia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.