Skip to main content

Olympia city, Washington Demographics & Population 2026

As of 2026, Olympia city, Washington has a total population of 55,583, the 25th largest city in Washington, with a median household income of $76,930, which is 19% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.8%.

Olympia city Quick Facts

Population 55,583
Median Household Income $76,930
Median Home Value $457,900
Poverty Rate 14.8%
Unemployment Rate 6.9%
Median Age 39.2 years
Homeownership Rate 49.3%
Affordability Ratio 6.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.0%
High School Graduation Rate 96.5%
Diversity Index 46/100
Population 55,583 25th of 631
Median Income $76,930 average
Poverty Rate 14.8% 19% higher national
Median Home Value $457,900 average

How Olympia city Compares

Economy & Housing

Employment

6.9% Unemployment Rate State: 5.0% | National: 5.2%
63.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 49.3%
Renter 50.7%
Affordability Index Expensive
6.0x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

46out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 55 | National average: 60

Education

Olympia city Rankings in Washington

#25 Population of 631
#328 Median Income of 631
#73 Education of 631
#237 Home Value of 631

Cities Similar to Olympia city

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Lacey city57,088$87,277$427,90032.2%11.0%
Burien city51,331$90,597$609,30031.5%10.4%
Lakewood city63,034$70,524$420,50022.6%13.6%
Richland city61,912$92,550$401,80046.0%9.3%
Bremerton city44,531$74,399$409,50026.9%13.5%

Population Overview

Olympia city is a mid-sized community located in Washington. The total population is 55,583. It ranks as the 25th most populous out of 631 cities and towns in Washington.

Age Demographics

The median age in Olympia city is 39.2 years. This is 3% higher than the state median of 38.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Olympia city is $76,930. This is 19% lower than the state median of $94,952. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 2% lower. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 49% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.9%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 39% higher than the state rate of 5.0%. The median home value is $457,900. Housing costs are 12% lower than the state median of $519,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 49.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 63.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Olympia city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 71.5% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 10.3%.

Education

50.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% higher than the state rate of 38.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.5%. Notably, 18.8% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Olympia city, Washington is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Washington state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 631 Census-designated places in Washington. For official data, visit data.census.gov.

Free data download: Get all Washington city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Olympia city, Washington?

Olympia city, Washington has a population of 55,583 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Olympia city, WA?

The median household income in Olympia city is $76,930, which is 2% lower the national median of $78,538.

What is the poverty rate in Olympia city, WA?

The poverty rate in Olympia city is 14.8%. This means approximately 8,108 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Olympia city, Washington?

Olympia city's population is 71.5% White, 2.5% Black, 10.3% Hispanic/Latino, and 6.5% Asian.

What is the median home value in Olympia city, WA?

The median home value in Olympia city is $457,900. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x.

How educated is Olympia city, Washington?

50.0% of adults (25+) in Olympia city hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 18.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.