$608,034Average Value$294Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
Sylvan suburban enclave
Tucked away in the southeast corner of Olympia, Wilderness’ name is slightly misleading. While the neighborhood is somewhat removed from the bustle of central Olympia, it’s also smack in the middle of the sprawling residential development that extends from the State Capitol campus nearly to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Which is to say the neighborhood is relatively far from any actual wilderness; though a small, self-contained forest does cover the north side of the neighborhood. “It’s a very quiet neighborhood, which is what draws a lot of people to the area,” says local Realtor Rebecca Champagne-Bingaman of Castle Realty. “There are a lot of full-grown pine trees around the neighborhood, which give it a kind of woodsy, outdoor feel that sets it apart from other modern subdivisions on the east side. It’s a relatively newer place, but the landscape makes it feel more established.”
The Wilderness neighborhood is a hidden gem close to Olympia.
In Wilderness you will find late-midcentury ranch-style and two-story homes.
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Modern homes and nice gardens
Wilderness’ housing inventory is composed of late-midcentury ranch-style and two-story homes, and contemporary developments that often feature Craftsman design elements. There are also a few upscale condos on the south side of the neighborhood off of Yelm Highway. Nearly the entire neighborhood is part of the Wilderness Property Owners’ Association HOA, which contributes to the neighborhood’s manicured look. “The HOA doesn’t mean it’s a cookie-cutter neighborhood, though,” says Champagne-Bingaman. “There are a lot of custom homes in the area, especially on the north side, along with more traditional homes. It has a lot of variety and a lot of personality.” Some fairly impressive tiered gardens can be found along Wilderness’ streets, often shaded by the towering pines that run through the neighborhood. Most homes here offer between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet and sell for between $550,000 and $800,000, though condos may be found for slightly less than that. The neighborhood has a CAP Index Crime score of 2 out of 10, well below the national average of 4.
The entire neighborhood is part of the Wilderness Property Owners’ Association HOA.
A perfect mid-century rancher home in the Wilderness neighborhood.
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Nearby LBA Park
Despite its name, there isn’t a whole lot of official public outdoor space in Wilderness. However, a few trails run through the small forest on the north side of the neighborhood, connecting to the large, city-maintained LBA Park, which features a playground and six baseball fields and hosts little league and intramural softball. Just west of the neighborhood, Ward Lake offers boating and fishing, and about a mile to the southwest, Tumwater’s spacious Pioneer Park runs soccer leagues and is home to a network of mixed-use trails along the Deschutes River. Wilderness is also just a mile west of Olympia’s impressive Chehalis-Western Trail, a 22-mile rail trail that runs north to Woodard Bay Conservation Area and is popular with cyclists.
Chehalis Western Trail has its own boat launch for some peaceful river cruising.
An unexpected feature of the LBA Park is charming animal sculptures.
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Straight-A schools
The neighborhood is part of the Olympia School District. All three of the public schools serving the neighborhood—Centennial Elementary, Washington Middle and Olympia High School—have an A grade on Niche. Olympia High offers college credit courses through a partnership with South Puget Sound Community College, which has nearby campuses in both Lacey and Olympia.
Centennial Elementary School has an A grade on Niche.
Olympia High School has an A grade on Niche.
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College Street shopping
Wilderness residents are a bit farther away from major shopping and dining centers than most Olympians. However, the neighborhood is still just a short drive—less than 2 miles by car—from the modest selection of shops and restaurants found at the intersection of Yelm Highway and College Street, which includes a Walmart and two supermarkets. Those looking to enjoy a night out, or a full day of shopping, are more likely to head to downtown Olympia or the shopping centers of central Lacey, both of which are located a few miles north of the neighborhood.
Lowe's has got Wilderness residents covered for all home improvement needs.
Safeway is another well-known grocery outlet close to Wilderness.
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A holiday destination
Apart from the odd informal block party, Wilderness doesn’t have much of a public event calendar. However, the neighborhood is known for going all out when it comes to Christmas and Halloween decorations, drawing visitors from all over town.
Residents find the streets of Wilderness very calm and walkable.
The Grinch stole Christmas for this Wilderness home celebrating the holidays.
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Yelm Highway commuting
Yelm Highway on the south side of the neighborhood and Boulevard Road to the east serve as the primary vectors for local travel. It’s a bit of a hike—over 3 miles by car—to the nearest Interstate 5 on-ramp in Tumwater. Bus routes in the neighborhood pass along Boulevard, Yelm Highway and Wilderness Road, and connect to both the Olympia and Lacey transit centers. It’s a 4 to 5-mile drive from the Wilderness neighborhood to downtown Olympia and the Washington State Capitol Campus and just over 15 miles to the entrance of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. It’s under 5 miles to the nearest full-service medical center, Providence St. Peter Hospital, and almost exactly 50 miles to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Sea-Tac Airport is just over an hour away from the Wilderness neighborhood.
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
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to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Wilderness
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
2
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
3
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
3
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
2
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Wilderness Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Wilderness, Olympia sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Wilderness, Olympia over the last 12 months is $590,000, up 9% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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.
