Are you moving to Olympia, Washington and wondering which neighborhoods are best for your budget, lifestyle, wants and needs? Then this guide is for you! Here is an overview of the neighborhoods within the city limits of Olympia, Washington. Let me know what neighborhood you like. And of course, if you are planning to buy your next home in Olympia, contact me today!
South Capitol Neighborhood
Where is the South Capitol neighborhood?
Just a few blocks south of the capital campus is Olympia’s historic district with homes on the historic registry. This is the South Capital neighborhood.
What kind of homes can I find in the South Capitol neighborhood?
If you are looking for vintage homes with character and style, this neighborhood has your best chances of finding interesting architecture.
As the capitol campus was being developed (1900-1929), this area, too, was building homes for many of our early pioneer founders. You can find some of Olympia’s most stately homes here. Many homes were built in the 1890s to 1940s.
This is a sought-after neighborhood and not too many homes come up for sale. For 2020, homes prices on average were in the mid-$500,000+ price range.
What draws people to the South Capitol neighborhood?
Many buyers are drawn to this area because they love older homes, the location to the campus and to downtown Olympia, the tree-lined streets and sidewalks, and residents feel at ease to walk or bike.
Interesting facts about the South Capitol neighborhood
- Many homeowners will offer room rentals to out-of-town legislators during the session for extra income.
- Some residents in the South Capitol neighborhood who park on the street will need a parking registration permit. But the fee is nominal at $10/per year.
- In 1991, the South Capitol neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you own a historic property on the Olympia Heritage Register, additional approvals are needed for any exterior remodeling or changes to ensure the changes don’t negatively affect the original character of the home.
- The oldest surviving house was built in 1878 (202 East 21st Street).
East Olympia
As you leave downtown Olympia heading east, you’ll surprisingly be in east Olympia!
Where is the East Olympia neighborhood?
There are two east neighborhoods – the upper eastside north of State Avenue and the lower eastside south of State Avenue.
What kind of homes can I find in the East Olympia neighborhood?
In east Olympia, you’ll find typically the smaller homes (1,000 -1,500 square feet), ramblers, and homes built in the 1920-1960s). There is more variety of housing including condos with water views and views of Swantown Marina, and more historic homes just north on State Avenue on Olympia Avenue. On Olympia Avenue, you can find homes built as early as 1866.
With the variety of homes here, sales prices for 2020 typically range from $250,000 to $500,000 with most homes in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range.
What draws people to this neighborhood?
People like this area because if you are looking for that cute home to renovate, this is a great place to find it. You are a very quick walk to downtown, the marina and the Farmer’s Market. Ralph’s Market has a Starbucks and several fast food options inside along with your regular groceries. There is a bicycle shop, yoga studio, beauty salons, and other retailers and restaurants within a short jaunt.
Within the neighborhood are the San Francisco Street Bakery, a 30-year fixture on the corner of San Francisco and Bethel, and the Olympia Little Theater on Miller, which is the oldest live theater in Olympia. This theater was established in 1939 and continues to produce live theater.
Going further east and still north of State Avenue, you’ll find newer homes (1990s to 2020s) and some homes on acreage. This is also where St. Peter Hospital is located and other medical buildings and services.
Southeast of Downtown Olympia
What kind of homes can I find in the Southeast Olympia neighborhood?
Southeast of downtown Olympia, are a variety of neighborhoods that are suburban. You’ll find Woodfield Estates, Castlewood, Briarwood and Marie’s Vineyard. These homes are typically two-story homes built in the 1980s-1990s, and are roughly 2000 square feet.
Around Ward Lake are larger homes and you’ll find the neighborhoods of Nottingham, Holiday Hills, and Whitmore Glen. You can find homes 2,500 to 3,500 square feet, and homes sales in 2020 have been $550,000 to $650,000.
What draws people to these neighborhoods?
The Southeast neighborhoods offer newer homes that offer a great location to amenities like Olympia High School, Pioneer Elementary School which is next door and Washington Middle School. Shopping and restaurants including the Starbucks in the Old Grange Building on Yelm Highway and Henderson. And of course easy access to downtown Olympia by car, bike or bus.
West Olympia – South
Where is the West Olympia-South neighborhood?
West of downtown Olympia, across the 4th Avenue bridge is West Olympia. Southwest Olympia is south of Harrison Avenue to Black Lake Boulevard.
What kind of homes can I find in the West Olympia-South neighborhood?
This neighborhood offers a variety of homes. The homes on the eastside of this neighborhood are the most coveted as some offer water views, views of the dome, and some are historical estates including a 3,330 square foot estate homes built in 1922 currently listed for $1.25 million.
But most homes are not million-dollar estates. Many are 1,000 to 1,500 square foot ramblers building between 1940-1970. For 2020, home prices range from $250,000 to $450,000.
What draws people to this neighborhood?
People love the carless options to easily get to the downtown Olympia waterfront. This area also offers the vintage homes many buyers crave with easy West Olympia access to Evergreen State College, South Puget Sound Community College, the Westfield Mall and access to Highway 101.
This neighborhood has a nice mix of urban and suburban feel between the plentiful neighborhood sidewalks to the close proximity of commercial and retail storefronts.
West Olympia – North
Where is the West Olympia-North neighborhood?
In West Olympia, north of Harrison, this neighborhood is a little different from its southern neighbor as this area is bordered on the west, south and east sides with commercial and retail properties. This has a more urban feel. Garfield Elementary School is nestled in this neighborhood along with the Olympia Food Co-Op and medical services on the south and east sides.
What kind of homes can I find in the West Olympia-North neighborhood?
There is a huge variety of homes in this part of town. Closer to Harrison, the south border, are the vintage homes, typically built from the 1900s to 1940s with newer homes dotted in between. There are also a few homes on the historic registry here, too. Homes generally sold between $250,000 to $450,000.
Further north, you’ll find homes built in the 1960s to 2000s and ranging in size from about 1,700 square feet to 2,500 square feet. This is an area you can find prime waterfront and water view properties. In 2020, there were several $1 million+ sales. But for most homes here in 2020, prices ranged from $350,000 to $550,000.
What draws people to this neighborhood?
This diverse housing neighborhood appeals to buyers who are looking for vintage homes, waterfront properties, urban homes, suburban homes and like the location to downtown Olympia and the amenities West Olympia has to offer.
West Olympia – Cooper Point
The Cooper Point area with Kaiser Road on the west boarder and Black Lake and Division Street on the east boarder and 28th Avenue on the north border offers a variety of homes.
Within this area are the neighborhoods of Goldcrest, Cooper Crest, Grass Lake Village, Bayhill, and Walnut Park.
What kind of homes can I find in the West Olympia-Cooper Point neighborhood?
Many homes in this area are the typical suburban-type homes – two-story homes, 2,000 to 2,500 square feet and built in the 1980s to 2010s. For 2020, homes prices are $375,000 to $450,000.
What draws people to this neighborhood?
People gravitate to West Olympia in general due to its location to shopping (the Westfield Shopping Mall), schools (Capital High School and Evergreen State College), Capital Medical Center, and freeway access.
In this particular area, relatively newer homes are available for the current median sales price in Thurston County.
West Olympia is a target location for many of my buyers. Some things you just can’t put facts and figures to, but people want to live in this part of town.
City of Olympia Quick Facts
- The city of Olympia has a population of 52,555 (2018).
- The Olympia School District is the public school district serving this area.
- The median sales price (2020) is $390,000.
Conclusion
Find the “best” neighborhood is up to what is important to you. For many home-seekers, location to work and amenities, lifestyle, budget and home type will be the leading factors for finding the right neighborhood.
If you are looking to make Olympia, Washington your home, I can help find the right house for you. Contact me today. I’d like to set up an interview with you to learn more about your housing needs!
You can reach me at (360) 359-0689 or by email at francine.viola@cbolympia.com.
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