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Olympia, WA
City in Thurston County, Washington. ZIP codes: 98501, 98506.
Population
55,951
Land area
18.2sq mi
People per sq mi
3,071
ZIP codes
2
Olympia and its ZIP codes
Olympia at a glance
- Olympia is about 26 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
- It is the 25th most populous of 628 cities and towns in Washington.
- Households here earn a median of $81,302 a year, 17% less than the Washington figure of $98,141.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $486,200 (14% below Washington) and median rent is $1,599 a month.
Local data for Olympia, WA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Olympia, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$81,302
Poverty rate
14.0%
Median home value
$486,200
Median rent
$1,599/mo
Homeownership
49.8%
Bachelor's or higher
51.8%
Median age
40.5
Average commute
20.0 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (10,015), Irish Americans (6,929), Mexican Americans (2,646).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Thurston County. PPP loans are for Olympia.
Unemployment rate
3.4%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$76,235
129,835 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$69,277
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$3.4B
FY 2026, $11,389 per person
How people get to work
Olympia, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone59.4%
- Carpooled6.3%
- Public transit1.9%
- Walked4.9%
- Bicycle1.1%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.8%
- Worked from home25.6%
Average one-way commute: 20.0 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Olympia, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively High
Top: landslide
Storm events since 1996
25
Countywide, mostly heavy rain
Flood insurance policies
703
0.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
78° / 33°F
50.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone30 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Olympia, WA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
30.8%
U.S. 33.3% -2.5 pts
Diabetes
9.9%
U.S. 12.1% -2.2 pts
Smoking
9.6%
U.S. 12.8% -3.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.6%
U.S. 11.1% -4.5 pts
ZIP codes in Olympia
2 in or overlapping Olympia. Population shown
Cities near Olympia
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| TumwaterCity | 3.9 mi | 17.7 |
| LaceyCity | 4.3 mi | 18.6 |
| TanglewildeCensus-designated place | 5.5 mi | 1.3 |
| Nisqually Indian CommunityCensus-designated place | 10 mi | 3.1 |
| Anderson IslandCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 8 |
| DuPontCity | 13 mi | 5.8 |
| TeninoCity | 13 mi | 1.5 |
| LongbranchCensus-designated place | 14 mi | 20 |
| RainierCity | 14 mi | 1.7 |
| YelmCity | 15 mi | 5.8 |
| Ketron IslandCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 0.3 |
| North YelmCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 3.3 |
| North Fort LewisCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 5.9 |
| Fort LewisCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 10.3 |
| Herron IslandCensus-designated place | 16 mi | 0.5 |
| SheltonCity | 16 mi | 6.5 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Olympia, WA in?
- Olympia is in Thurston County, Washington.
- What ZIP codes are in Olympia, WA?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Olympia include 98501, 98506.
- What is the population of Olympia, WA?
- About 55,951 people live in Olympia, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Olympia?
- Nearby places include Tumwater (3.9 mi), Lacey (4.3 mi), Tanglewilde (5.5 mi), Nisqually Indian Community (10 mi), Anderson Island (12 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023