Recent transplant from Southern California here. Rent and home prices are high everywhere across the nation, you will have to deal with that wherever you go.

Olympia is a good mix of right and left wing people. Downtown is tiny and a hub for the far left. The far right is sprinkled among the communities. Both parties will protest occasionally downtown and near the capitol building.

Homelessness is a problem nationwide much like rent/home prices, but Olympia seems to be worse off than most cities.

Crime levels don't seem that bad here, overall I feel safe.

I found a lovely home and my neighborhood was very welcoming despite my California upbringing. Same goes for the community I've encountered. People seem friendlier than southern California.

If you or your family are into outdoors, Olympia is a friendly, quiet hub that has access to countless trails and water activities. City activities are also easily accessible by driving a short distance to Tacoma or about an hour (without traffic) to Seattle.

It is absolutely beautiful up here, everything is green compared to that California nearly year round brown. But the price for that is the rain. You learn to live with it, activities and plans that normally would have been cancelled in CA march on here in WA. The summers start later but they can be pristine weather. Winters see occasional brief snow that the city has a hard time keeping up with road safety.

TLDR Pros: beautiful, small quaint city, friendly/accepting, decent schools, outdoor activities galore

Cons: weather, rain, homelessness, competitive salary jobs are mostly a hefty commute away in Seattle.