City comparison
Norwich, CT vs Olympia, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Olympia, WA are 3.2% higher than in Norwich, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Norwich, CT would need about $103,200 in Olympia, WA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,682 a month in Olympia, WA versus $1,496 in Norwich, CT. On $100,000, that's 25% of take-home pay in Olympia, WA and 24% in Norwich, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,925 a year higher in Norwich, CT than in Olympia, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −0.4% moving from Norwich, CT to Olympia, WA ($120,094 → $119,630), while prices change by +3.2%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.5% in real buying power.
- Norwich, CT: price level 100.4 (about average)
- Olympia, WA: price level 103.7 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Norwich, CT | Olympia, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.4 | 103.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,211 in Olympia | $96,889 in Norwich |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,496/mo | $1,682/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $57,370 | $61,960 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Seattle-Tacoma, WA |
Rent areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT MSA and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA MSA. Metro areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT and Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Norwich | Olympia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.7 | 116.7 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 91.7 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 100.4 | 103.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Norwich, CT → Olympia, WA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.1%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$3,925/yr.
58 Fair offer
Olympia, WA → Norwich, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.2%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$3,925/yr.
79 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Norwich, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Olympia, WA is in Seattle-Tacoma, WA. The last column shows what a transfer from Norwich, CT to Olympia, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Norwich, CT | Olympia, WA | Real change, Norwich → Olympia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $69,373 | −3.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $83,935 | −3.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $100,602 | −3.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $119,630 | −3.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $141,367 | −3.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Norwich, CT | Olympia, WA | Olympia pay in Norwich dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $83,840 | $104,650 | $101,395 (+20.9%) |
| Software Developers | $123,780 | $124,060 | $120,201 (−2.9%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,530 | $94,470 | $91,531 (+10.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,330 | $125,020 | $121,131 (+19.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.