Olympia, WA vs Tumwater, WA

Olympia, WA and Tumwater, WA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 2.2% difference in their overall index. Olympia scores 121 while Tumwater scores 123 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Olympia is $1,509/month compared to $1,654/month in Tumwater — a 9% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Olympia has cheaper rent, Tumwater actually has lower median home values ($438,000 vs $457,900).

Median household income in Olympia is $76,930 compared to $93,635 in Tumwater (-17.8%). While Tumwater is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Olympia spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 21.2% in Tumwater.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.5°F). Tumwater receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 50.6" in Olympia.