Environment, sports and history define Tumwater, a quiet city in northern Washington. The city is closely tied to Olympia, next door to Tumwater. “You don’t really know when you go from one city to another,” says Jim Clifford, a Broker with Washington Realty Group, who’s sold homes in the city. “They’re conjoined.” The state government has built several office buildings in Tumwater, deepening the connection between the two cities. “A lot of people who live in Tumwater work in Olympia, and vice versa,” says Clifford. When not commuting to work, many residents are seen at the local high school's many sporting events.
One tree in Tumwater is almost as old as America, and it helps define the community. The Davis Meeker Oak Tree is over 400 years old and was a landmark on the Oregon Trail and the Cowlitz Trail. Due to safety concerns surrounding the tree, the city attempted to remove it in 2024. A citizen-led group opposed the removal and successfully lobbied for the Davis Meeker Oak to stay in the ground. A solution to the safety, environmental and civic concerns about the historic tree is currently in the works.
High amount of homeowners is Tumwater
The median price of a home in Tumwater is $520,000, about $100,000 higher than the national average. Tumwater’s housing stock is newer than Olympia’s, and most people own their homes. “Tumwater is a hidden gem,” says Peggy Costley, a Realtor with Windmere Real Estate – Marysville, who’s sold homes in the city. “I would say there’s a lot of pride in ownership.” Properties tend to be about 2,500 square feet, and many were built in the early 2000s. There are also manufactured home communities on the city’s west side.
Brewery Park is historic and has access to the Deschutes River
Tumwater has several parks and access to area lakes, plus a golf club that was built around a series of springs that used to supply the Olympia Brewing Company’s brewing process. People tend to take it easy in Tumwater and enjoy visiting the parks or setting up a tee time. Brewery Park is one of the city’s most notable parks. When the historic Old Olympia Brewery closed in 2003, its land was donated to the city, creating the 15-acre park. It offers hiking trails and access to the Deschutes River, open for swimming, kayaking and canoeing. It’s also close to neighborhoods like Tumwater Hill . Plus, just south of the city is Millersylvania State Park.
Tumwater Public Schools
The city is served by the Tumwater School District 33, which has a B-plus rating on Niche, and 12 campuses. The Tumwater Thunder Birds, the local high school team, brings the community out on game nights to watch football, basketball and volleyball.
Driving between Tumwater and Olympia
Interstate 5 runs through the heart of Tumwater, leading north to Olympia. Cars are the primary way to get around the Olympia-Tumwater area and beyond, and there is public transit via Intercity Transit. Olympia Regional Airport is in the southeastern corner of Tumwater. Most people in the city don’t experience noise pollution from incoming and outgoing flights. The Seattle–Tacoma International Airport is about 50 miles northeast.
Tumwater has shopping essentials, Olympia has shopping fun
Big box stores and national retailers can be found in shopping centers off Interstate 5. Local restaurants are within a mile of the busy interstate, and the local food selection includes Italian restaurants and pizza shops. The city also has a variety of breweries. For larger shopping trips or an evening out, most people drive 5 miles to Downtown Olympia, which has a bustling downtown with restaurants, bars and shops.
Crime in Tumwater
Tumwater is part of Thurston County, and according to the county's Sheriff's office, all violent crime rates generally stayed the same from 2022 to 2023, and property crime rates fell.
On average, homes in Tumwater, WA sell after 45 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Tumwater, WA over the last 12 months is $539,000, up 6% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
TEAM DAN-O, DAN-O & Pam strongly believe that everyone deserves a professional that will work to accomplish every client's real estate goals. When they work with a client, their vision and goal is to give them 100 percent of their experience and knowledge to negotiate the best price for their real estate transaction. DAN-O & Pam's unique advantage lies in the breadth and depth of their local real estate experience. They have worked with new construction, land purchases and residential real estate -from first-time buyers to distinctive property sales. Clients often turn to Dan O &Pam because they trust their knowledge and strong negotiation skills. Dan-O's work has earned him awards for 30+ years with John L. Scott Real Estate and his local board organization. On the marketing side of things, their unique and specific marketing plans for properties also set TEAM DAN-O apart. Their knowledge of local issues and real estate experience ensure their clients are well-represented from the start to finish of every transaction.
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.
