$541,196Average Value$309Average Price per Sq Ft8Homes For Sale
Rochester allows for a countryside home within commuting distance of Olympia
Rochester is a quiet, rural community that offers a peaceful place to call home in the greater Olympia area. "You get more bang for your buck. The price of homes down there is a little more affordable," says Jason Munoz, a Realtor and owner of Munoz Home Group with Keller Williams South Sound, who has over a decade of experience. "It's more rural and has more space. There are fewer people, so you have more of a small-town feel." The community is on U.S. Route 12 just off Interstate 5, offering convenient regional commutes. Nearby natural areas and recreation sites allow residents to escape into nature, while the spacious lots and tall pines provide a natural feeling at home.
Spacious lots provide room for gardens, farms and backyard activities
Homes in Rochester are often midcentury ranch-style or manufactured houses, although there are some vintage Craftsmans and bungalows from the early 1900s. There is little new development, but buyers can find some 21st-century homes. Properties are almost always a quarter-acre or more, with many being at least an acre. The lot sizes make it ideal for gardening, small-scale farming, or simply enjoying extra space. Some homes come with outbuildings like barns or workshops. Munoz says there are no homeowners associations in the area, so buyers can use their land however they want. The median sale price is around $550,000. The Black and Chehalis rivers pose a significant flood risk to the area. Rochester has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Craftsman homes are abundant in Rochester.
Spacious homes sit on woodsy lots in Rochester.
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Forests and wildlife areas offer hiking and hunting opportunities
Natural recreation surrounds Rochester. "There's a lot of hunting and fishing in the area. Actually, you can find pretty much whatever outdoor activity you want," says Larry Weaver, broker/owner with Dreamweaver Real Estate and fourth-generation area resident. "There's basically endless trails at Capitol State Forest, and it's an hour and a half to ocean beaches and an hour and a half to snow skiing in the Cascades." Capitol State Forest has over 100,000 acres of public land for hiking, horseback riding, camping and wildlife viewing. Wildlife areas like the Scatter Creek and Black River units offer more hiking options, plus hunting for pheasants and other birds. Rochester Park is a green space within the community with baseball fields, a playground and walking paths.
Explore miles of hiking and biking trails in Rochester's Capitol State Forest.
Rochester Community Park offers a playground and a walking trail.
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Highway 12 is the spot to be for shopping and dining in Rochester
Rochester's commercial activity is centered along Highway 12 and includes chain and locally owned businesses. Highway 12 Drive-Inn is an old-school fast-food spot serving burgers and milkshakes. Talking Cedar in nearby Grand Mound is a restaurant, distillery and brewery serving traditional pub food and house-made drinks. Lucky Eagle Casino & Hotel has multiple dining options, plus slots and table games. Groceries are available at Bailey's IGA Market or Country Corner Market. Olympia and Tumwater have more shopping, including stores like Costco, Walmart and Home Depot on I-5.
Highway 12 Drive-Inn serves up burgers and shakes with a retro feel in Rochester.
Rochester residents frequent IGA Bailey’s for their grocery needs.
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Highways offer convenient commutes throughout Washington
Highway 12 and I-5 offer commutes throughout Washington, making Rochester a convenient spot for people working in the larger cities. "Most people in the area these days commute to Olympia, a few to Centralia," says Weaver. "There's hardly ever any traffic on the way to either town, so it's pretty easy to get around." Olympia is about 21 miles north via I-5, while Centralia is about 11 miles south. Rural Transit operates a bus route in the area that connects Rochester to Tumwater.
Rochester schools prepare students for careers
Rochester Primary School earns a B-minus from Niche, while Rochester Middle School and Rochester High School each receive a C-plus. The high school offers several career pathways, including agriculture and engineering and robotics. Students are required to take at least two semesters of career and technical education courses to graduate.
Rochester students begin their education at Rochester Primary School.
Students in Rochester continue their education at Rochester Middle School.
Rochester High School offers a variety of career pathways.
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Written By
Matthew Atkins
Photography Contributed By
Marcus Yzaguirre
Video By
Mallory Nolte
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eric Butler,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Rochester, WA sell after 46 days on the market compared to the national average of 54 days. The median sale price for homes in Rochester, WA over the last 12 months is $524,999, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Beautiful 2022 double-wide manufactured home situated on a level one-acre lot. Offering 1,768 sq ft, this home features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, plus a versatile office/den with a desirable split-bedroom floor plan for added privacy. The spacious kitchen shines with a large center island, 9-ft ceilings, abundant cabinetry, and plenty of natural light. The primary suite includes an oversized walk-in
Woodsey 6+ ac retreat near Rochester. Economical land for a new home. Blend of rural tranquility yet with reasonable access to city amenities with Olympia an EZ 35 min commute and a couple of miles from the gaming and restaurants at the Lucky Eagle casino. Near the end of quiet dead-end street it's a nature lover's paradise. Trees are tall Doug fir, Alder & Maple. Rock-free sandy loam soils.
True end of the road privacy! It's a large home with 1944 sq ft and 3 bedrooms, plus two living areas to enjoy, connected by a galley kitchen with new tile floor and live edge laminate tops. Charming original cabinets, double sided brick fireplace with painted front and pellet insert in one room and original red brick and wood for the other. Fully fenced and gated for privacy and security.
Explore this economical option for your new home or campsite. Secluded 7+ ac retreat is just a 35-minute commute to Olympia and just minutes from the gaming and restaurants at the Lucky Eagle Casino. Offering a blend of rural tranquility yet with reasonable access to city shopping. Tucked away on a quiet dead-end st, A nature lover's paradise. Well wooded with Doug fir, Maple & Alder. Rock-free
Set on 12+ beautiful acres in the heart of Rochester, this once in a lifetime property offers the perfect blend of comfort, functionality, and country living with unbeatable convenience. This well built 3-bedroom, 13⁄4-bath home features vaulted ceilings and an open-concept layout is both bright and welcoming. The spacious kitchen includes an eating area and flows seamlessly into the living room
Bring your animals and toys to this affordable home on 1 acre of usable land. Plenty of room for RV parking w/50 amp. Shop has loft storage and large rolling doors. The large back yard is flat, dry, and partially fenced. Finish it to give your animals more room to roam. Fenced enclosure behind the shop could be a dog kennel or garden space. A fire pit is just off the back deck for outdoor
Discover a versatile rural property offering two homes on one parcel, perfectly suited for multi-generational living, rental income, or owner-occupied investment. The primary residence is a 2008 manufactured home, providing comfortable, functional living space with a practical layout ideal for everyday life. A second manufactured home on the property opens the door to immediate additional
Welcome to Still Waters Ridge! Build your dream home on Lot 5 & wake up every day to 180-degree views of Black Hills & Olympic Mtns, and in the evening, those amazing sunsets! Enjoy visiting wildlife: deer, elk, owls, eagles - in the peaceful country setting you’ve been craving. Lot 5 offers mult bldg sites & features a wetland, delineated & planted with a variety of wetland vegetation - watch
Discover your private hillside retreat! New Roof, New flooring, New Paint and is like a new home for you and yours. This private 3-bedroom home offers sweeping views, fenced and cross-fenced pastures for livestock, and rich garden soil ready for your next harvest. Enjoy established fruit trees, wide-open timberland as your neighbor, and daily visits from local wildlife. A home security system is
Great location on east side of I-5, with 350'of I-5 frontage & 335' of Loganberry frontage. 2 Parcels consisting of 4.66 acres off Loganberry (#31412700300) and1.34 acres off I-5 (#31412600300). Small parcel has separate driveway easement for access to 188th. Zoning is RuralCommercial Center (RCC), which is perfect for wholesale or retail nurseries, greenhouses, farm supplies, seed and feed and
Enjoy peaceful mornings surrounded by fresh air and big skies as you discover this perfect blend of open space, comfort, and convenience! Beautiful, well-maintained single-story home sits on nearly 2.5 acres with endless possibilities. Stylish fixtures, radiant heat flooring, dramatic details, & clean lines will capture you upon entry. The vaulted living room's wall of windows provides a
Rare opportunity to acquire 152 plus acres of highly private land with a significant timber component, offering a rare blend of lifestyle enjoyment and long term real asset potential. The property features mature evergreen stands approximately 35 plus years in age that continue to grow in both volume and value, creating the opportunity for a disciplined 10 year hold strategy that could
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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