Rows tagged local are specific to Olympia (Census ACS); state rows are state averages; metro-area rows are inherited from Olympia, WA. Home value is ACS owner-reported (not a Zillow sale price).
School score: 8/10 (district Olympia School District · NCES EDFacts)
Cost of living
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)
106.4
metro-area
#175 of 200 metros
Grocery index (US=100)
104.9
metro-area
#175 of 200 metros
Big Mac price (est.)
$6.05
metro-area
#175 of 200 metros
Median household income
$73,851
local
#2053 of 3,220 cities
Median wage (all occupations)
$44,289
local
#1754 of 3,220 cities
Who lives here
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median age
39.8 years
metro-area
#135 of 200 metros
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)
37.2%
metro-area
#64 of 200 metros
Foreign-born residents
8.5%
metro-area
#95 of 200 metros
Homes that are owner-occupied
67.8%
metro-area
#79 of 200 metros
Economy
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Unemployment rate
6.86%
local
#2566 of 3,220 cities
Population growth (5-yr)
+10.5%
local
#659 of 3,220 cities
Housing — what your money buys
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Median home price
$409,700
local
#2030 of 3,220 cities
Home price ÷ income (affordability)
5.5×
local
#2591 of 3,220 cities
1-yr home appreciation
+0.3%
metro-area
#130 of 200 metros
Price per square foot
$228
local
#2047 of 3,220 cities
Typical home size (implied)
1,800 sqft
Median rent (monthly)
$1,437
local
#1562 of 3,220 cities
Homes for sale (inventory)
948
Median days on market
11
metro-area
#57 of 200 metros
Taxes
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)
10.7%
state
#124 of 200 metros
Combined sales tax
9.38%
state
#180 of 200 metros
State income tax (top rate)
None
Capital gains tax
7.00%
state
#149 of 200 metros
High earners
7% capital gains tax on gains over ~$262k (no wage income tax)
Social Security in retirement
Not taxed — has no state income tax, so Social Security is untaxed along with everything else
Effective property tax rate
0.95%
local
#1553 of 3,220 cities
Median property tax paid
$3,892
local
#1723 of 3,220 cities
Health & childcare
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Life expectancy at birth
78.3 years
metro-area
#56 of 200 metros
Healthcare (annual, single adult)
$6,600
state
#65 of 200 metros
Uninsured (share of residents)
6.7%
metro-area
#57 of 200 metros
Primary care providers per 100k
87
metro-area
#46 of 200 metros
Childcare (annual, infant, center)
$16,000
state
#150 of 200 metros
Vehicles & commute
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Annual registration
$200
state
#135 of 200 metros
Vehicle property tax (annual)
None
state
#1 of 200 metros
Emissions testing
Not required
Emissions detail
Discontinued emissions testing in 2020
DMV & license offices
1
Avg commute to work
21 min
local
#360 of 3,220 cities
Commute by driving alone
69.2%
metro-area
#34 of 200 metros
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min
35.4%
metro-area
#136 of 200 metros
Utilities & fuel
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Electricity
14.4¢/kWh
state
#21 of 200 metros
Avg monthly electric bill
$129
state
#19 of 200 metros
Gasoline
$4.55/gal
state
#175 of 200 metros
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)
$58
state
#58 of 200 metros
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)
$167
state
#179 of 200 metros
Home internet (avg monthly bill)
$83
state
#135 of 200 metros
Insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Home insurance (annual)
$1,500
state
#51 of 200 metros
Auto insurance (annual)
$1,600
state
#51 of 200 metros
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Main natural hazards
Notable hazards: wildfire, earthquakes — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)
94.5 — Relatively High
metro-area
#138 of 200 metros
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)
$700
state
#61 of 200 metros
Earthquake insurance (annual)
$700
state
#175 of 200 metros
Climate & air quality
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)
26
metro-area
#4 of 200 metros
Cooling degree-days (AC load)
300
metro-area
#2 of 200 metros
Homes with air conditioning (state)
53%
state
#192 of 200 metros
Heating degree-days (heat load)
4,700
metro-area
#116 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 90°F
5
metro-area
#19 of 200 metros
Days per year ≥ 100°F
0
metro-area
#5 of 200 metros
Avg summer high (state)
76°F
metro-area
#2 of 200 metros
Avg winter low
37°F
metro-area
#65 of 200 metros
Annual precipitation
39.3"
metro-area
#74 of 200 metros
Annual snowfall
6.3"
metro-area
#97 of 200 metros
Sunshine (% of possible)
33%
metro-area
#200 of 200 metros
Plant hardiness zone
8b
Frost window
02-25 → 12-01
Safety
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)
375
state
#69 of 200 metros
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)
3,000
state
#186 of 200 metros
Local amenities & recreation
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Grocery stores
16
metro-area
#190 of 200 metros
Parks
19
Hiking areas
6
Golf courses
6
Shooting ranges
2
Lakes
2
Permits
Metric
Value
Scope
US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)
5
state
#165 of 200 metros
Permit detail
Difficult; long timelines, design review in Seattle
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.