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Olympia, WA

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Olympia, WA

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 47
Population55,583
Foreign Born3.0%
Population Density3,050people per mi²
Median Age39.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

143/100

43% above national average

B

The Real Cost of Living in Olympia, Washington

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $24k$45k
Comfortable $86k$126k
Luxury $125k+$194k+
Elite (Top 5%) $147k+$229k+
Affordability Ratio

61%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A+
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean91%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
30
Poor
4
Negative
6

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

2.2mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

2.3mi

Airport

SEA — Seattle-Tacoma International

39.2mi

Post Office

USPS — Lacey, WA

4.2mi

Critical Amenities

Golf5Nearest 2.7 mi
Camping20Nearest 7.7 mi
Marina11Nearest 0.4 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 39 mi
Gun Range1Nearest 0.1 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$77k+4.2%
2% above US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$1M
59% above US avg
College Educated
50.0%
43% above US avg
WFH
20.5%
43% above US avg
Homeownership
49.3%
25% below US avg
Median Home
$458k
62% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
30.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−14.8%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+3.7%
Homicide
0.00 / 1k Residents100% below state avg
Robbery
0.98 / 1k Residents103% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.94 / 1k Residents63% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−33.2%
Burglary
3.53 / 1k Residents20% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
20.18 / 1k Residents56% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.90 / 1k Residents18% below state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+9Leans Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Olympia, Washington
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.7% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
D-
PoorHigh regulation

Energy independence: Importer (55% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A+
Fully OpenRetail sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season240 days336 frost-free
Annual Rainfall50.1"
Elevation16 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C-
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
C
Weak47 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor3,050/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B-
Fair11 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorEarthquake
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 135 mi · coast 44 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$190.6M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySeattle737k people are 47 mi away
Nearest Major AirportSEA39 mi away
Distance to State Capital0.6 miOlympia, WA
Nearest Prison4.5 mi6 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T09:14:56.000Z

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