Olympia

North East Olympia is covered in colorful murals throughout the neighborhood.
Spacious homes with bay views are featured in Northwest.
Rows of large homes for growing families can be found in Northwest.
Carlyon-North offers charming homes with easy access to Washington’s top attractions.
Cozy homes in Carlyon-North, close to parks, schools, and local amenities.

Olympia, WA Area Guide

Bask in the beautiful waterfront lifestyle of Washington’s state capital

Bayfront Lakeside Picturesque Historic Active Nautical

Nestled at the southern tip of Puget Sound, Olympia combines waterfront scenery with the distinction of being Washington's capital city. From historic downtown apartments to residential communities in East Olympia and South Capitol, the housing options are extensive. The rental market remains stable, with current average rents ranging from $1,308 for studios to $2,378 for four-bedroom homes, showing modest year-over-year increases between 0.7% and 2.1%. The city features an extensive trail system, including Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park) with its 150-year-old forest and waterfront access, while downtown hosts the historic Capitol Theater and Washington Center for Performing Arts.

Downtown Olympia centers around Percival Landing, where the year-round Olympia Farmers Market draws visitors to the waterfront boardwalk. The Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound Community College contribute to the city's educational landscape. The South Capitol Historic District features preserved craftsman homes, while the West Side offers residential communities near parks and natural areas. Downtown's artesian wells, including the historic Fourth Avenue Fountain, remain an integral part of local heritage. The annual Procession of the Species parade, held each April, showcases the community's artistic spirit through elaborate costumes and performances.

Explore the City

Rows of large homes for growing families can be found in Northwest.

Carlyon-North offers charming homes with easy access to Washington’s top attractions.

Cozy homes in Carlyon-North, close to parks, schools, and local amenities.

Travel made easy with SeaTac International Airport near Carlyon-North.

Rent Trends

As of March 2026, the average apartment rent in Olympia, WA is $1,246 for a studio, $1,510 for one bedroom, $1,833 for two bedrooms, and $2,121 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Olympia has increased by 1.2% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,510/month
669 Sq Ft
House
$2,597/month
1,650 Sq Ft
Townhome
$2,299/month
1,278 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Olympia, WA

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Olympia, WA is 13.2% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Olympia is 17.3% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,246 - $2,121. You can expect to pay 6.2% more for groceries, 2.6% less for utilities, and 28.4% more for transportation.

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Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Olympia, WA is for everyday living.

Somewhat Walkable

53 / 100

You might be able to get out and walk when living in this area. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, but for others you’ll need a car.

Some Transit

33 / 100

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

Bikeable

62 / 100

While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.

Schools

McKenny Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Roosevelt Elementary School

Public

Grades K-5

Boston Harbor Elementary

Public

Grades PK-5

Leland P Brown Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

Jefferson Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Washington Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Reeves Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

Griffin School

Public

Grades PK-8

Olympia High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Capital High School

Public

Grades 9-12

Touchstone

Public

Grades 6-12

4 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Olympia

Houses for Rent in Olympia

Property Management Companies in Olympia, WA

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.