Rank: 18

Olympia, Wash.
Building permits (year-over-year change): -17.9%
Median home price: $241,700
Home price change: -5.5%
Unemployment rate: 7.1%

Olympia, the state capital, is heavily dependent on government jobs. It's popular with outdoor enthusiasts who take advantage of the hiking and bike trails, the forests, and the saltwater beaches. The metro's 17.9% year-over-year drop in building permits is relatively stable when compared with the rest of the nation's.

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