Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

Olympia, WA Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

55,951

Median Agei

40.5

Race & Ethnicityi

White

71.2%39,834

Hispanic/Latino

10.6%5,910

Two or More

7.3%4,067

Asian

6.7%3,748

Black

2.7%1,528

Other

0.8%458

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.5%287

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0.2%119

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

3%1,256

High School Diploma

14.5%6,026

Some College (<1 yr)

6.1%2,522

Some College (1+ yr)

12.8%5,322

Associate's Degree

8.5%3,522

Bachelor's Degree

31.2%12,992

Master's Degree

15.3%6,355

Professional Degree

3.6%1,495

Doctorate

1.7%725

HS or Higher

96.5%

BA or Higher

51.8%

Graduate+

20.6%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$486,200

Median Renti

$1,599

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

49.8%12,685

Renter-Occupied

50.2%12,766

Total Units

26,795

Homeownership

49.8%

Vacancy Rate

Home Values

Under $50K

2.3%298

$50K–$100K

1.3%163

$100K–$150K

1.2%148

$150K–$200K

1.1%134

$200K–$300K

4.1%525

$300K–$500K

44.2%5,604

$500K–$1M

43.7%5,549

$1M+

2.1%264

Rent Distribution

Under $500

584

$500–$750

621

$750–$1,000

707

$1,000–$1,250

1,241

$1,250–$1,500

2,371

$1,500–$2,000

3,840

$2,000+

3,205

Year Built

2020 or later

1.7%458

2010–2019

11.8%3,173

2000–2009

11.2%3,006

1990–1999

14.6%3,917

1980–1989

13.1%3,511

1970–1979

15.3%4,089

1960–1969

7.5%2,007

1950–1959

6.4%1,704

1940–1949

6.8%1,822

1939 or earlier

11.6%3,108

Heating Fuel

Electricity

60.8%15,467

Utility Gas

36.9%9,400

Bottled/LP Gas

0.7%186

Wood

0.4%114

No Fuel

0.4%108

Fuel Oil

0.4%103

Solar

0.2%43

Other

0.1%30

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$81,302

Mean Household Incomei

$98,686

Per Capita Incomei

$45,674

Poverty Ratei

13.8%

Unemploymenti

7.2%

Labor Forcei

29,861

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

7.9%2,018

$10K–$15K

2.8%722

$15K–$20K

2.6%652

$20K–$25K

2.6%663

$25K–$30K

2.2%554

$30K–$35K

3.2%823

$35K–$40K

3.6%918

$40K–$45K

3%752

$45K–$50K

2.9%747

$50K–$60K

7.7%1,960

$60K–$75K

8.6%2,184

$75K–$100K

12.9%3,277

$100K–$125K

11.4%2,897

$125K–$150K

9.3%2,364

$150K–$200K

9.6%2,433

$200K+

9.8%2,487

Federally Subsidized Housingi

HUD

The federal government helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford housing through several programs. Residents typically pay about 30% of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest. This data shows how many households in this community receive that assistance.

Subsidized Homesi

1,605

Residentsi

2,508

Avg. Tenant Renti

$431/mo

Avg. Waitlisti

7 months

Programs in this community

Public Housing70 homes97% occupied$349/mo rent

Government-owned housing managed by local housing authorities

Housing Choice Vouchers834 homes84% occupied$447/mo rent

Rental vouchers (Section 8) that help tenants pay for private-market housing

Project Based Section 8228 homes92% occupied$409/mo rent

Privately owned apartments with rent subsidies tied to the building

202/PRAC59 homes98% occupied$391/mo rent

Household Incomei

Based on area median of $81,302/yr

Extremely low incomeUnder $24K/yr

86.2%

Very low income$24K–$41K/yr

12%

Low income$41K–$65K/yr

1.8%

Who Receives This Housing

67.3% of subsidized households are headed by a single mother

29.2% of subsidized households are minority

40.8% of subsidized households include someone with a disability

43.6% of subsidized households include a senior (62+)

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

4,7018.4%

By Region

Top Countries

Korea

535

Germany

405

India

343

Philippines

337

Mexico

265

China

180

Canada

133

United Kingdom

104

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

27,011

Avg. Commutei

20 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

27,259

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

3,549(7.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

94.4%Insured

5.6%Uninsured