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| What Olympia is like for active adults |
If you have been looking to retire in a relaxed college town with ample access to the great outdoors and where something is always going on, then Olympia, with just over 42,500 people in southern Washington, might be the place for you. Outside Magazine recently named Olympia as one of the best college towns in America. There are 3 community colleges, led by Evergreen State College which creates a youthful presence here. The city serves as a regional shopping, cultural, and entertainment center.
The area gets plenty of rain but it also has a relatively mild climate. All that rain results in a lush and picturesque environment that is second to none, with Puget Sound on one side and the Olympic mountains on the other. This diverse city has a wet but mild climate in the winter.
There are many cultural activities which is one reason why this town is a popular home for retirees. There are plenty of open spaces and beautiful parklands. Olympia National Park is perfect for hiking and other activities. The presence of Puget Sound should appeal to sailors and fishermen.
Retirees coming from the west or east coasts will find real estate to be relatively inexpensive by those standards. According to Yahoo Real Estate the MLS median asking price of 1214 homes offered for sale in late 2006 was $315,000. There were 668 homes listed in real estate classifieds with a median price of $334,900.
For a list of profiles of over 190 cities and towns go to retirement community reviews, or for more information on taxes and what it is like to retire in Washington State. Here are our reviews of Bellingham and the San Juan Islands |
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| What is special about this community |
| • Small college town and the state capital
• Relatively low cost of living
• the evergreen forests of Olympic National Park
• Puget Sound
• Procession of the Species, a community arts-based festival and parade
One of Washington’s largest flea markets |
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| What is not special about this community |
| • Earthquakes |
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| What kinds of people like living here |
| Olympia attracts a community of who would like to live in a college town, who like culture, and who enjoy being close to one of the world’s great outdoor environments. Here is a review of another great college town in WA, Walla Walla |
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| Local economy is driven by |
| The state capital, tourism, and 3 colleges drive the economy. |
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| Physical environment |
| Olympia is located on the extreme southern tip of Puget Sound on Budd Inlet. The majestic mountains of the Olympia National Park and Puget Sound provide a rare backdrop. Several strong earthquakes occurred here in 1949, 1965, and 2001. |
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| Cultural environment |
| Olympia has become a hub for artists and musicians, and there is a popular Mozart at a Music in the Dark concert. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is here, as is Capital Playhouse, and Harlequin Theatre |
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| Medical facilities |
| Columbia Capital Medical Hospital.
Providence St. Peter Hospital |
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| Transportation |
| Olympia Airport |
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Active Adult Communities in Olympia |
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| Olympia Active Communities |
| Facts about OLYMPIA | | State | : WA | | Environment | : Urban,Suburban,College Town,Mountains,Coastal,Lake, | | City Population | : 25,001-50,000 | | Median age of Population | : 25-44 | | Avg Jan Temperature | : 21-40 | | Median HH Income | : 41,001-60,000 | | Average Home Price (MLS) | : $300,001-$500,000 | | Annual Property Tax on a $200,000 house | : NA | | Total Crime Index | : 91-100 (slightly below average) | | Cost of Living Index | : 101-110 (slightly above average) | | Culture Index | : 111-120 (high) | | State Sales Tax | : | | State Income Tax | : | | Name of the Guide | : |
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Vote on the Ratings for Olympia |
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Update Your Ratings |
Overall Retirement Ratings
1. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 43 votes cast)
Expense:
Inexpensive to Luxury
2. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 38 votes cast)
Taxes:
Inexpensive to Expensive
3. Rating: 1.3/5 ( 40 votes cast)
Culture:
None to Cosmopolitan
4. Rating: 2.0/5 ( 31 votes cast)
Recreation:
None to Summer camp
5. Rating: 3.5/5 ( 2 votes cast)
Transportation:
Boondocks to World Hub
6. Rating: 4.0/5 ( 3 votes cast)
Security:
Dangerous to Ft. Knox
7. Rating: 1.5/5 ( 6 votes cast)
Medical Facilities:
None to Excellent
8. Rating: 2.2/5 ( 42 votes cast)
Political Situation:
Conservative to Liberal
9. Rating: 2.6/5 ( 58 votes cast)
Environmental:
Oblivious to Ultra-Green
10. Rating: 3.0/5 ( 2 votes cast)
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