Olympia’s Upper Eastside neighborhood is an unassuming neighborhood with a lot of personality. Located just a few blocks east of the city’s buzzing downtown, the mostly midcentury neighborhood is known for its thoughtfully updated homes and convenient location. The neighborhood also includes a small commercial area along 4th and State Avenues, providing easy access to a supermarket and a few popular restaurants. “It’s really eclectic, there’s nothing even slightly cookie cutter about the place,” says local Realtor Rebecca Champagne-Bingaman of Castle Realty. “It’s close enough you can just hop a bus to downtown or Lacey, and most homes are within walking distance of the supermarket and bakery.”
Just east of downtown, this midcentury area boasts charm and convenience.
Left Bank Pastry has some amazing pies to try.
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Updated midcentury homes
The mostly residential neighborhood is primarily made up of single-family homes built between the mid-20th century and the 1980s. Architectural designs include ranch-style homes, split-levels and bungalows, and many homes have undergone significant interior or exterior remodels or updates in recent years. Yards here are small but well-maintained, and more than a few properties are fronted by impressive native plant gardens. Homes in the neighborhood mostly offer between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet of interior space and generally sell for $400,000 to $550,000
This home has a great color that helps it stand apart from its neighbors.
A perfectly cute bungalow home in the Upper Eastside neighborhood.
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State and 4th Avenue shops and restaurants
On the south side of the neighborhood, State Avenue and 4th Avenue connect Upper Eastside to downtown Olympia and serve as the commercial heart of the area. “There's a lot to do in the neighborhood, it's very walkable,” says Realtor Missy Watts, founder of the Watts Property Group, who has lived in the area for nearly 30 years. “You can walk to the supermarket, or to a bakery.” Locals can pick up groceries at Ralph’s Thriftway or grab garden supplies at Eastside Urban Farm & Garden Center, both located within the neighborhood. Additional shopping can be found by following the roads west to downtown Olympia or east to Lacey’s shopping centers. Upper Eastside is also home to some of the city’s most popular eateries, including always-popular French bakery Left Bank Pastry. Vic’s Pizzeria on Fourth Avenue is known for its creative pizzas and welcoming atmosphere, while Eastside Big Tom is a longstanding burger joint that has become something of an Olympia institution. The neighborhood's proximity to downtown Olympia means residents are always just a few blocks from the center of the region’s bar and nightlife scene.
Shop garden supplies at Eastside Urban Farm & Garden Center.
Ralphs serves the Upper Eastside with all its grocery needs.
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Avanti High's bike porgram
The local public schools are overseen by the Olympia School District. Roosevelt Elementary has a B grade on Niche, while Reeves Middle School sports an impressive A-minus. Avanti High School has a B-plus and features an in-school bike shop, Avanti Bikes!, where students can learn about bike maintenance and safe cycling.
Reeves Middle School has an impressive A-minus on Niche.
Roosevelt Elementary has a B grade on Niche.
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Nearby Mission Creek Nature Park
While there aren’t any public parks in the neighborhood itself, the surrounding area is dotted with well-maintained city parks and natural areas. Just north of the neighborhood, Mission Creek Nature Park features groomed nature trails and a boardwalk, while nearby Bigelow Park and Lions Park offer playgrounds and athletic fields. Less than 3 miles northwest of the neighborhood, 314-acre Squaxin Park—formerly Priest Point Park—features miles of hiking trails that run through old-growth forest and along the coast. Boating and fishing are popular pastimes in the neighborhood as well: there are multiple marinas and boat launches in the area.
Mission Creek Nature Park features groomed nature trails and a boardwalk.
Lions Park has playgrounds, fields and basketball spaces.
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Nearby downtown events
"During the summer the neighborhood closes some of the streets to host street fairs with chalk drawings, art, music and more," says Watts. Downtown Olympia, just a mile west of the neighborhood, puts on a number of major festivals throughout the year, including the Capitol Lakefair in July and Olympia Harbor Days on Labor Day Weekend, drawing thousands of visitors from all over the Pacific Northwest.
Interstate 5 commuting
The neighborhood is well-connected to the city’s main roads, including Pacific Avenue and State Avenue, which lead directly into downtown Olympia and the Interstate 5 corridor. Public transportation is available through Intercity Transit, with several bus routes running along State Avenue and 4th Avenue on the south side of the neighborhood, and Bigelow Avenue on the north side. It’s a little over a mile from Upper Eastside to both downtown Olympia and the nearest I-5 on-ramp, so locals have easy access to both the heart of the city and the greater Olympia area. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a major employer in the area, is a 13-mile straight shot via the interstate, while Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is a little over 50 miles away in the same direction.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Richard Maxwell,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Lions Park
Bigelow Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Playground
Mission Creek Nature Park
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Upper Eastside
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
4
4
Burglary
6
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Upper Eastside, Olympia sell after 11 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Upper Eastside, Olympia over the last 12 months is $442,814, down 11% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home NOT for sale. East 50 feet of lot to be subdivided upon waiver of feasibility. Final sale subject to subdivision. Lot for sale measures approximately 50 x 115. City of Olympia states that sewer is approximately 115 ft away. Water & power in street. Buyer to verify all. New tax parcel number & final legal description to be assigned at time of subdividing. Garage to remain on new lot. Do not
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Richard Maxwell,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
972
Median Age
43
Population under 18
19.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.7%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$67,500
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$83,692
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
95.2%
College Graduates
56%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
23.2%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
50''
Average Winter Low Temperature
32°F
Average Summer High Temperature
77°F
Annual Snowfall
5''
Area Factors
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
95/ 100
Somewhat Walkable
Walk Score®
52/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
43/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
