No. 6 Olympia, Washington
By Marc A. Wojno, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, July 2009
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Population: 233,113
Income Growth: 22%
Cost of Living Index: 105
Median Household Income: $55,129
Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36%
Olympia is a cultural diamond in the rough of the Pacific Northwest. Mischaracterized sometimes as a sleepy government town, Washington's state capital -- just 60 miles southwest of Seattle on the southern tip of Puget Sound -- enjoys a thriving visual and performing-arts scene.
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Walk down the city's main street, Capitol Way, and you'll discover fashion boutiques, art galleries showcasing the works of local painters and sculptors, coffee houses, and nightclubs. Don't miss Brotherhood Lounge -- better known as Broho -- which features a variety of music, from alternative and indie rock to DJs that spin punk, garage, soul and vintage country.
Trendy? Yes. Profitable? Indeed. Despite the recession, Olympians and visitors are still spending briskly on the arts and eating out. Jenny Shaw, manager of the Urban Onion Restaurant and Lounge, in the Theater District in the heart of downtown, feels lucky that she and her staff haven't felt the recession blues. "Revenues were up 20% in 2008," says Shaw.
But it's the state government that continues to be the keystone of Olympia's economy; it employs about half of the city's working population. Education is another big driver of the city's growth and character. Evergreen State College, a liberal-arts school specializing in the social sciences and visual and performing arts, helps fuel the creative spirit. Saint Martin's University, a private school located in neighboring Lacey, is known for engineering and applied sciences.
Reader Comments (13)
Posted by: Sheila at 05/26/2009 07:50:47 PM
The Brotherhood, yes!
Posted by: K Miyatake at 05/29/2009 11:28:00 AM
Olympia's population is approx. 43,000, not 233K'ish. Based on the last census, the approx. poplution of the greater Thurston County area is about 230K. Editors Note: All of the population numbers for Kiplinger's Best Cities measure the city's statistical metropolitan area, not just the city. Olympia's metro area population is around 233,000, taking into account the greater Thurston County area. Hope this helps.
Posted by: mojo at 06/09/2009 10:58:15 AM
Nice city. Too bad it's full of 'Lympians.
Posted by: dick at 06/09/2009 11:36:48 AM
Only problem with Olympia is Olympians, most of whom live on a different planet. Otherwise a wonderful place.
Posted by: lauren at 06/10/2009 05:37:31 PM
Does it ever occur to you that perhaps what makes Olympia so special IS the Olympians? It seems to me that both 'mojo' and 'dick' are lumping themselves in with those they consider unsavory. As an Olympian, I am used to this chopped logic, and find it amusing after all these years. It just adds to the character of our city!
Posted by: adam at 06/11/2009 12:47:06 AM
Absolutely no way are there over 200,000 people in Oly...If one includes Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm.. yes, you have 200k, but you do not have Olympia. And Editors, take note: Capitol Way isn't the main drag. You're thinking of 4th Ave. Capitol Way is...the way to the Capitol. At least you got the BroHo right...I miss that place!
Posted by: Bill at 06/12/2009 01:39:32 PM
I love living in Olympia. The diversity of its people is what makes it so interesting. Also, Capitol has been the main drag for at least the 50 years I've been living here.
Posted by: Quidnunc at 06/14/2009 02:59:55 PM
First of all, the official name for the Broho is the Brotherhood Tavern, not Lounge. Did the author confuse it with the Royal Lounge two blocks north towards Farmer's Market? I do wish that in the article, they had mentioned, as they did in the video, The Procession of the Species, which is probably what put Olympia over the top for this 6th place classification. Apparently, this person was in Olympia on April 25th, the very day that the zebras danced down the street en masse. And, according to the 2008 census estimate, the population of the whole of Thurston County is 245,181, so obviously this person was trying to be concise, but the actual 2006 estimate of the City of Olympia is 44,645. I know we've had an increse, but I don't think it's that much. Anyway, it was nice to read that Olympia, the beautiful city that it is, was honored in this way. Thank you Kiplinger's. Now, on to number one!!
Posted by: Gordon at 06/17/2009 03:13:26 AM
4th ave is the main drag, that's where the dive bars are, where people go on a Friday night. Capitol way is the main drag for the government folks only, many of whom surely wouldn't like to mingle with the homeless people on 4th Ave...
Posted by: Gordon at 06/17/2009 08:56:57 PM
......and neither would the readers of Kiplingers!
Posted by: Dan at 06/27/2009 04:37:24 PM
I remember when the "Procession of the Species" was called the Pet Parade. It was a fun time for kids as they entered their pets or perhaps went as clowns or made their own floats. Now, as the "Procession" it is just another left coast expression of elitism, fueled by "Greeners" and other more "enlightened" people. I find it interesting that its the basically non-productive aspects that make my home town appealing. If you want to find loafers, leeches, and the unbathed, downtown is the place to be!
Posted by: Vijay Akella at 07/13/2009 12:13:15 PM
Olympia WA is nice and small city, crime free and lively people. The drawback is rain, rain, rain. Olympia has more rain than any surrounding cities due to funnel effect of Puget sound . 7 months the weather sucks as cloudy, gloomy and you don’t see Sunshine for months together. children can hardly play outside.
Posted by: dking at 09/03/2009 10:46:06 AM
Olympia has it's share of dive bars, most with plenty of personality. It also has some great food, a solid farmer's market (mentioned above), arts and the like. Also mentioned above are Procession of the Species & Pet Parade which are 2 different events. Procession, a celebration of nature, runs in conjunction with the Spring Arts Walk. Pet Parade happens in August. Olympia is an active community with many other events worth noting.. If you have a good covered canoe you might attend one or two, just kidding. Public transportation is good. Crime is low. Traffic is growing along with Thurston County's population. Parks and Rec in the Thurston County area are excellent... Olympia has its share of rain but it is also warmer/colder than the rest of Western WA. In the past 5 years Western Washington has had major storms but probably a trend to less days of rain, more days of sun(far less rain than people think, many more days of sun). If you chose to move here bring your umbrella if you have one, just make sure it fits your golf cart.