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Yelm, WA

City in Thurston County, Washington.

Population

11,102

Land area

5.8sq mi

People per sq mi

1,910

ZIP codes

0

Yelm and its ZIP codes

Full map

Yelm at a glance

  • Yelm is about 16 times as dense as Washington as a whole.
  • By population, it ranks 119th among 628 cities and towns in Washington.
  • The median household income is $90,750, 8% below the Washington median of $98,141.
  • A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $455,300 (19% below Washington) and median rent is $1,626 a month.

Local data for Yelm, WA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Yelm, WA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$90,750

Poverty rate

6.1%

Median home value

$455,300

Median rent

$1,626/mo

Homeownership

66.6%

Bachelor's or higher

27.4%

Median age

31.0

Average commute

33.8 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,432), Mexican Americans (1,190), Irish Americans (1,033).

Home values and rentsIncome, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Thurston County. PPP loans are for Yelm.

Details

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$76,235

129,835 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$69,277

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$3.4B

FY 2026, $11,389 per person

Thurston County economyFederal spending

How people get to work

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

  • Drove alone71.7%
  • Carpooled12.7%
  • Public transit1.0%
  • Walked2.7%
  • Bicycle0.0%
  • Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.3%
  • Worked from home8.7%

Average one-way commute: 33.8 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Yelm, WA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively High

Top: landslide

Storm events since 1996

25

Countywide, mostly heavy rain

Flood insurance policies

703

0.9% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

78° / 33°F

50.6 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone

Health statistics

Share of adults in Yelm, WA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

32.4%

U.S. 33.3% -0.9 pts

Diabetes

7.9%

U.S. 12.1% -4.2 pts

Smoking

12.1%

U.S. 12.8% -0.7 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

9.0%

U.S. 11.1% -2.1 pts

Cities near Yelm

NameDistanceLand area (sq mi)
North YelmCensus-designated place1.8 mi3.3
McKennaCensus-designated place3.3 mi1.1
RainierCity4.7 mi1.7
RoyCity5.2 mi0.5
Nisqually Indian CommunityCensus-designated place6 mi3.1
Fort LewisCensus-designated place11 mi10.3
TanglewildeCensus-designated place11 mi1.3
LaceyCity12 mi18.6
South CreekCensus-designated place12 mi7.7
DuPontCity12 mi5.8
North Fort LewisCensus-designated place12 mi5.9
TeninoCity13 mi1.5
Elk PlainCensus-designated place14 mi8.4
SpanawayCensus-designated place14 mi8.7
TumwaterCity14 mi17.7
McChord AFBCensus-designated place15 mi5.9

Frequently asked questions

What county is Yelm, WA in?
Yelm is in Thurston County, Washington.
What is the population of Yelm, WA?
About 11,102 people live in Yelm, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What cities are near Yelm?
Nearby places include North Yelm (1.8 mi), McKenna (3.3 mi), Rainier (4.7 mi), Roy (5.2 mi), Nisqually Indian Community (6 mi).

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

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