10 Reasons You’ll Love Moving to Olympia, WA {2022 Guide}

For anyone considering moving to Olympia, Washington here is an article for you! People love living in Olympia and it seems like even if they leave to live in another state or city they always make their way back here. If you’re curious about living in Olympia, WA check out all the affordable homes here!

If you’re considering moving to Washington or Olympia, WA please don’t hesitate to contact us and we may be able to help with your relocation! Our team has a vast range of expertise and knowledge about the local market that we can offer to you personally to help you make the right decision.

More and more we’re seeing people move here from all over the country and even world! What a lot of people don’t know about Olympia is that it’s the state capital of Washington. A lot of people think it’s Seattle, which is a good guess being the largest city, but it’s actually Olympia! People are drawn to our city for the community, the people, the location, and the work, to name a few. You’ll find once you relocate here that people are passionate about living here. It’s the sense of pride that keep people here and keep having them return.

If you are considering moving to Olympia, Washington here are 10 reasons you’ll love it.

1. Community

2. The people

3. Location, middle point of large cities like Seattle & Portland

4. Nature

5. Breweries

6. Affordability of homes

7. Weather

8. Golf

9. Water, puget sound & beaches

10. Jobs & Military

Community – A main reason to move to Olympia, WA

When you come to Olympia from a bigger city you’ll instantly notice the small town vibe. Everybody knows everybody even though it does consist of 57,000 people. You may also have heard of the “Seattle Freeze” where people are comfortable with their clicks and it’s very hard to meet new people when you move to Seattle, Olympia that is non-existent. There is a genuine sense of community where people want to meet new people and they embrace building relationships outside of their own circle.

Olympia is also great at harvesting events for its community. The have great beer fests, family friendly outdoor movie nights, 4th of July fireworks, races such as the Olympia half marathon, etc. Whatever you’re looking for in a community driven city, Olympia has it.

The People you Meet in Olympia

Part of what makes the community so great in Olympia is the people in the city that call it home. You’ll notice right away how happy people are to live in Olympia, and how friendly everyone is. People go out of their way to make someone’s day a little bit better and these type of people are what attracts new people to the area. If you meet someone at the gym you’ll most likely start to see them at the farmers market or a local restaurant.

You Can’t Beat the Location of Olympia

Olympia is right in the middle of two major cities in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle & Portland. It’s 45 minutes to Seattle and 90 minutes to Portland. You’re also only 30 minutes from Tacoma, WA and 60 minutes from the Washington beaches! You’re also surrounded by waters and mountains, the scenery is breathtaking. It’s only a quick trip to visit Mt. Rainier, lake Mayfield and Ocean Shores. The sky is the limit when you’re looking for quick weekend getaways because Olympia is the center of it all.

Olympia is THE spot for Nature

As you may have heard… it does rain here in the Pacific Northwest. You do get used to it because it brings extraordinary scenery. The green trees, snow mountains, red & orange leaves are what makes Olympia one of the more gorgeous places to live. Even though it does rain here quite a few months out of the year, that doesn’t stop locals from getting outside. There are trails, hikes, biking groups, running clubs, etc. that are always busy, just need to dress appropriately! Olympia is also known for tons of deer, whale sightings in the sound, and bald eagles in the trees.

If you like beer – Olympia is a great spot to be!

As you probably know, Olympia Beer was born and raised in Olympia, Washington. This historic site close in 2003 but still has a great deal of history and affect on the town. Many local residents have some sort of story about the brewery and the building is still standing in Tumwater. Since then the city has developed a number of great breweries! To name a few; Fish Tale (which was featured on Diners Drive-ins & Dives), Three Magnets, Matchless, Top Rung and many more.

Affordable Housing in Olympia, WA

Since Olympia is a smaller city outside of Seattle & Portland it’s a great place to purchase an affordable home. You’ll get more for your money and still be in a great location. Olympia is constantly expanding, adding more new construction in Tumwater & Hawks Prairie which leads to more businesses coming into the market. There’s also a variety style of homes in the Olympia. Whether you’re looking for mid-century modern, new construction, farmhouse, waterfront etc. Olympia has it.

Four Seasons in Olympia

We’re not lying when we say we live in the most beautiful state. The Pacific Northwest has all four seasons and it never gets old. Talk to any local here and they’ll say the summer and fall are the most beautiful times of the year and you cannot beat then anywhere in the world. Depending on where you live in the state you’ll see snow for about a month and that’s it which is the perfect amount of time. In Olympia you’re also just a quick drive to the mountains or to the east side of the state where the weather is drastically different.

Big Golfer? Come to Olympia!

There are 5 main golf courses in Olympia, WA and 18 others within 20 minutes. A secret I’ll let you in on, golfing here is CHEAP. We’re talking $15/round during specific times. If you’re big into golfing the courses stay open until they start to frost and yes people are still out there in the rain. One great thing about the courses is that you’re able to schedule tee times quickly and they never feel “crowded”. If you’re into watching golf, Chambers Bay is a short 15 minute drive and major tournaments come to play every year.

Beaches, the Puget Sound, & Lakes minutes away in Olympia, WA

If you’re into being on the water, seeing water, or visiting water, Olympia is the place for you. There are a variety of different places whether you’re into the beach life, lake life or sound life. It’s hard to drive even 10 minutes down the road without seeing the gorgeous views the water has to offer. Waterfront properties are hard to come by but working with an experienced knowledgable agent will help find the property you’re looking for.

State & Military Jobs in Olympia, WA

Since Olympia is in a great location for commuting, it’s a great place to live when building your career. A lot of people commute by bus or train to Tacoma or Seattle for their jobs. It’s also ideal for people in the military because it’s only 20 minutes to Joint Base Lewis McChord. With Olympia being the state capital there are also a number of state jobs available. There is a lot of opportunity when it comes to building or starting a career in Olympia.

I hope this helps give you some more insight into the city of Olympia! If you would like to learn more or have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at PNW Homes Group | eXp Realty.

Mel & Zack Durham | 360.481.2073 | www.melandzackdurham.com