Retiring to Tacoma–Olympia, WA
Selling a home for $525,000 and keeping $150,000 in the bank leaves room to buy in 1 of 26 Tacoma and Olympia neighborhoods with 5+ sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026 (after 6% selling costs, buying at the neighborhood median). The closest of those to a hospital is New Market, Olympia (13 min to Providence St. Peter Hospital, typical drive with no traffic). Property tax in Olympia runs about 0.92% of value a year (Census ACS 2023).
Questions? Call or text Chris Harris, REALTOR®: (270) 421-8726.
Next steps, your choice
Plan a scouting week
One neighborhood a day: the drive to the hospital and homes to see.
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Ask Chris
Chris Harris, REALTOR®, reads every note himself. He is not licensed in WA, so for showings and offers he introduces you to a licensed agent there; he may receive a referral fee from that agent’s brokerage, which does not change your price. Can’t visit first? Say so in your note.
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Every neighborhood we have numbers for
Neighborhoods with 5+ sales, Oct 2025–Sep 2026 (Redfin), cheapest first by town. Minutes: typical drive, no traffic to the facility named for each kind, © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
| Neighborhood | Town | Median sale | Sales | Hospital | VA medical center | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrona / Oakland | Tacoma | $404,887 | 25 | 8 min | 21 min | 36 min |
| South Tacoma | Tacoma | $427,380 | 251 | 11 min | 18 min | 38 min |
| Lakeview | Tacoma | $437,877 | 56 | 3 min | 10 min | 42 min |
| Eastside | Tacoma | $439,377 | 386 | 10 min | 23 min | 34 min |
| South End | Tacoma | $442,376 | 523 | 11 min | 17 min | 37 min |
| Central | Tacoma | $474,867 | 275 | 5 min | 21 min | 37 min |
| Downtown Tacoma | Tacoma | $549,846 | 89 | 3 min | 21 min | 33 min |
| New Tacoma | Tacoma | $549,846 | 89 | 2 min | 21 min | 33 min |
| West End | Tacoma | $599,832 | 400 | 11 min | 27 min | 42 min |
| North East | Tacoma | $647,519 | 197 | 17 min | 33 min | 30 min |
| North End | Tacoma | $654,817 | 355 | 5 min | 25 min | 39 min |
| Northeast Tacoma | Tacoma | $701,803 | 223 | 18 min | 33 min | 32 min |
| Soundview | Tacoma | $944,735 | 44 | 5 min | 25 min | 37 min |
| New Market | Olympia | $269,874 | 5 | 13 min | 12 min | 68 min |
| Eastside | Olympia | $469,868 | 32 | 9 min | 8 min | 64 min |
| South Capitol | Olympia | $484,864 | 12 | 10 min | 9 min | 65 min |
| North East Olympia | Olympia | $511,357 | 75 | 14 min | 13 min | 54 min |
| Meadows | Olympia | $511,857 | 191 | 13 min | 12 min | 68 min |
| Indian Creek | Olympia | $539,849 | 15 | 7 min | 6 min | 63 min |
| Wilderness | Olympia | $549,846 | 22 | 14 min | 13 min | 70 min |
| Northwest Olympia | Olympia | $567,341 | 34 | 10 min | 9 min | 66 min |
| Deschutes | Olympia | $574,839 | 24 | 11 min | 10 min | 66 min |
| Southeast Olympia | Olympia | $589,835 | 25 | 13 min | 12 min | 69 min |
| Hawks Prairie | Olympia | $594,833 | 191 | 13 min | 12 min | 54 min |
| Littlerock | Olympia | $624,825 | 66 | 20 min | 19 min | 75 min |
| Cain Road | Olympia | $772,284 | 34 | 10 min | 9 min | 66 min |
Left out because they are outside Tacoma and Olympia: Pacific (a separate city), Northeast Lakewood (Lakewood, a separate city), North Lakewood (Lakewood, a separate city), Gig Harbor North (Gig Harbor, a separate city), Central Lacey (Lacey, a separate city).
Redfin groups these with Tacoma and Olympia, but we have no map location for them yet, so we can’t confirm they are in town: Central Lakes, Edmond Village, Palisade Village, Yehle Park Village, Hoffman Hill Village, South Lakes, Westside, Rosedale-Hunt, Purdy, View Basin, Canter, Upper Eastside, Thompson Place, South Westside, Tumwater Hill, Horizons, Trosper, The Lakes, Tumwater Airport, Carlyon North, Southeast Capitol Boulevard, Bigelow Highlands, Oak Tree, Chambers Lake Basin, Pleasant Glade, Downtown Olympia, Indian Summer Golf & Country Club.
Check crime data
We don’t grade neighborhoods on crime. Look up the streets you’re considering in Tacoma or Olympia with the agency that patrols them:
- Tacoma Police Department (city police)
- Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (addresses outside city limits)
- Olympia Police Department (city police)
- FBI Crime Data Explorer (agency-level reports)
What Washington doesn’t tax
Washington has no state income tax.
- Social Security, pensions, IRAs, 401(k)s and military retired pay are not taxed by the state. A 9.9% tax on income over $1 million starts January 1, 2028.
- Property tax exemption for homeowners 61 or older, people unable to work because of a disability, and veterans with an 80%+ service-connected rating (or paid at the 100% rate) whose income is under the county limit. Apply with the county assessor.
Full details: Washington retirement taxes →
Source: Washington Department of Revenue, Income tax (read 2026-10-20); Washington Department of Revenue, Property tax exemption for seniors, people retired due to disability, and veterans with disabilities (read 2026-10-20). Figures change each year; confirm with the agency before you rely on them. Not tax advice.
The twenty-year test
Which of these do you need in the house you will live in for twenty years?
Email me homes that pass
The alert matches what the listing feed has: price, bedrooms, bathrooms, year built and house type. Chris checks each match for the features the listing feed can’t see.
Home prices: Redfin neighborhood medians, Jul–Sep 2026, neighborhoods with 5+ sales. Property tax: Census ACS 2023 effective rates. Selling costs estimated at 6% of the sale price.