56,271
Population
Sunny Days: 136
90100 Affordability
95100 Schools
70100 Diversity
80100 Safety
Living in Olympia, Washington
Oly
Aerial View of Olympia
Capitol Building of Olympia
Downtown Olympia
Olympia Farmer's Market , Credit: Thurston Talk
State Capitol
LookyLoo Review of Living in Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the kind of small Pacific Northwest capital that often surprises people. It’s political, of course, but also creative and has a calmness that comes from being surrounded by water and trees. Downtown sits at the southernmost tip of Puget Sound, with views that feel much bigger than the city’s population. You see Mount Rainier in the distance, and it is surrounded by quiet inlets wrapping around the edges of town.
Olympia isn’t a smaller Seattle or Tacoma. It’s quieter, easier to navigate, and everything sits on a manageable scale. The farmers market is a big part of local life, and the waterfront paths get steady use because they’re right there, not a big excursion. You don’t get a lot of flash, although that can be true for most of the state, but you do get a city that functions at a pace most people can live with. There’s also a steady creative presence, including small venues, local arts events, and workshops that run year-round.
For movers who want access to Puget Sound without the intensity of Seattle or the sprawl of Tacoma, Olympia offers a more contained, livable option.
Washington Center for Performing Arts
Lifestyle in Olympia
Daily life in Olympia usually centers on a few familiar places. Locals regularly walk the loop around Capitol Lake or take the path along Percival Landing. Stops at the Olympia Farmers Market for produce and prepared foods. Priest Point Park gets steady use for short hikes, and families often hit up the Hands On Children’s Museum on weekends.
Going out tends to mean a visit to Well 80, Olympia Coffee Roasters, or one of the breakfast spots near downtown. Local arts events can be found at venues such as the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Olympia Little Theatre, and the small galleries along Fourth Avenue. The scale of the city makes these routines easy; nothing requires much driving or planning.
Check out the Olympia calendar of events to see what locals get up to throughout the year.
We highly recommend visiting Olympia and staying in the community at a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) instead of a hotel to get a feel for what it's like to live among the locals. You can also receive discounted fares on travel through our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ).
Worklife in Olympia
Oly
Olympia’s work life is largely government employment and small creative businesses. The State Capitol drives many jobs, which brings nice stability, and a culture of public service. The city has plenty of policy professionals, educators, early childhood workers, planners, and a large community of remote workers who left Seattle or Portland in search of easier and cheaper living. They're well-served by coworking spaces like EverWorks and Regus at the WSECU Building.
There’s also a strong nonprofit sector and a wide range of service jobs, especially around downtown and the Westside. Tech isn’t concentrated here, but remote tech workers are common.
Commuting to Tacoma or JBLM is possible but rarely preferred daily. Olympia works best for people who can work locally or remotely and want a grounded daily pattern.
Olympia High School
Schools in Olympia
The Olympia School District (OSD) serves most of the city and gets solid marks. On Niche it ranks #14 out of 231 Washington school districts for “Best School Districts in Washington,” and receives an "A" Rating.
Below are some of the standout schools by level — good to know whether you’re looking for elementary, middle, or high school options.
Elementary Schools
- Pioneer Elementary School — Overall Grade: A. Ranked #126 out of Washington elementary schools. Student-teacher ratio: ~17:1.
- Centennial Elementary School — Grade: A. Ranked #128 in the state for elementary schools.
- McKenny Elementary School — Grade: A-, noted in Niche for a strong community feel.
Middle Schools
- Washington Middle School — Overall Grade: A. One of the higher-ranked middle schools in Olympia with ~21:1 student-teacher ratio.
- Reeves Middle School — Grade: A-. Smaller enrollment (~389 students) and solid marks.
High Schools
- Olympia High School — Overall Grade: A. Ranked #24 out of ~430 public high schools in Washington. Student-teacher ratio ~23:1.
- Capital High School — Grade: A-. More than 1,300 students; noted variety in program choices including Running Start (college credit) options.
Key Takeaways
-Across the board, the district performs above average relative to most Washington districts and plenty of families move here for the quality of the schools.
-If you’re moving, check specifically which school your address is zoned for; boundaries matter.
-While the larger high schools have more programs and options, they also have larger student populations and the typical trade-offs in size
Reviews of Living in Olympia, WA from Locals
skibumbw
2y ago
🦉🦉🦉
Without knowing what a quality life means to you, I’ll try to answer some of your questions objectively and then with my context.
Crime is never as bad as it seems. We have a larger than average population of people visibly living without permanent shelter and many see this as “crime”. There IS a higher incidence of petty crimes nearby some of the encampments. One thing a lot of people miss is the white collar and non-criminal antisocial behavior that goes down in and around the Capitol campus.
We have some of the best access to nature compared to anywhere in the world. Now that nature is frequently wet, grey, second growth evergreen forests but it’s close! We also have one of the most interesting marine environments, again with a caveat that it is murky and cold. (I am crazy enough to gear up and explore both because it’s worth the challenge).
We have a very high cost of living, but that is balanced with a decent social support system (for the USA), good transportation (free transit!), and interesting if a bit sleepy downtown. We’re close to “big” cities of Seattle and Portland and SeaTac is a pretty awesome airport to connect to other places when you get bored.
We also don’t pay a state income tax but the cost of rent or real estate really soaks a lot of that savings.
We have the second best beer in the country (unapologetic former Vermonter here trying to start fights) because our water is famously pretty tasty.
Our winters are dark and rainy but damn, our summers are awesome (til the smoke arrives). I miss snowy winters from New England but don’t miss shoveling snow.
Bring a happy lamp, ensure you make enough money, and don’t fear the rain and you’ll be fine.
For more reviews of what living in Olympia is like from locals, check out The Reviews. https://lookyloomove.com/locations/olympia/reviews
Olympia FAQ
Q: Is Olympia more affordable than Seattle or Tacoma?
A: Yes. Housing and daily costs are consistently lower, making Olympia a more manageable option for people who want access to Puget Sound without big-city expenses.
Q: Is Olympia good for remote workers?
A: It works well. Internet infrastructure is strong, and coworking options are plentiful. The quieter pace helps with focus, but there are also tons of coffee shops if you need a little buzz to go with your work.
Q: What’s winter in Olympia like?
A: Expect long stretches of gray and steady rain, typical for the South Sound. Summers are mild and beautiful.
Q: Is downtown Olympia safe?
A: It has some challenges, including property crime and visible homelessness, but most residents feel comfortable when they’re aware of their surroundings and choose the blocks that fit their comfort level.
Q: How long is the drive from Olympia to Seattle?
A: About an hour without traffic. With traffic, it can run significantly longer. People with flexible schedules manage it best.
Q: Is outdoor access in Olympia good?
A: Yes. Parks, trails, and waterfront areas are immediately accessible. Olympia is also a launch point to the Olympics, Mount Rainier, and the South Sound inlets.
Q: Are the schools in Olympia good?
A: Olympia schools perform well, receiving an "A" grade on niche.com. Particularly strong arts programs and deeply engaged communities.
Want to give Olympia a shot?
Use our friends at VRBO and Expedia to help get you going!
Living in Olympia
Neighborhoods in Olympia
View All
South Capitol, Olympia — Neighborhood Guide
State workers, policy professionals, families, longtime residents.
The Vibe:
South Capitol sits just south of the Capitol Campus and feels like Olympia’s classic historic district. Streets are lined with older homes from the early 1900s, many well-preserved. The neighborhood is walkable and shaded by mature trees. Residents value proximity to downtown without its noise and the sense of long-term community on every block.
Zoned Schools:
- Pioneer Elementary
- Washington Middle
- Olympia High
Median Home Price: ~$620,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
-North End (Tacoma)
-Grant (Salem)