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Elma, WA

City in Grays Harbor County, Washington.

Population

3,483

Land area

2.8sq mi

People per sq mi

1,260

ZIP codes

0

Elma and its ZIP codes

Full map

Elma at a glance

  • Elma is about 11 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • The median household income is $78,086, 20% below the Washington median of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $409,600 (27% below Washington) and median rent is $984 a month.

Local data for Elma, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Elma, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$78,086

Poverty rate

24.9%

Median home value

$409,600

Median rent

$984/mo

Homeownership

66.7%

Bachelor's or higher

21.3%

Median age

42.6

Average commute

30.9 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (568), Mexican Americans (544), German Americans (489).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Grays Harbor County. PPP loans are for Elma.

Details

Unemployment rate

5.4%

Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$60,001

23,790 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$53,029

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$731M

FY 2026, $9,664 per person

Grays Harbor County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

Elma, WA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

  • Drove alone70.0%
  • Carpooled13.5%
  • Public transit1.3%
  • Walked6.4%
  • Bicycle0.4%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.7%
  • Worked from home7.6%

Average one-way commute: 30.9 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Elma, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: tsunami

Storm events since 1996

27

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

1,364

4.1% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

78° / 35°F

72.0 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Elma, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

36.2%

U.S. 33.3% +2.9 pts

Diabetes

11.6%

U.S. 12.1% -0.5 pts

Smoking

15.6%

U.S. 12.8% +2.8 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

10.8%

U.S. 11.1% about the same

Cities near Elma

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
SatsopCensus-designated place3.6 mi7
MaloneCensus-designated place4.8 mi9
BradyCensus-designated place6.2 mi6.1
McClearyCity7.1 mi2
PorterCensus-designated place7.2 mi8.9
MontesanoCity8.7 mi10.9
OakvilleCity14 mi0.6
Central ParkCensus-designated place15 mi3.5
CosmopolisCity18 mi1.4
Aberdeen GardensCensus-designated place18 mi1.6
AberdeenCity20 mi10.9
SheltonCity20 mi6.5
RochesterCensus-designated place20 mi8.5
TumwaterCity23 mi17.7
Grand MoundCensus-designated place24 mi4.1
HoquiamCity24 mi9.5

Frequently asked questions

What county is Elma, WA in?
Elma is in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
What is the population of Elma, WA?
About 3,483 people live in Elma, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Elma?
Nearby places include Satsop (3.6 mi), Malone (4.8 mi), Brady (6.2 mi), McCleary (7.1 mi), Porter (7.2 mi).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023