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CITY

Yelm

Washington · 12,043 residents (2025 est.) · 5.711 sq mi
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The short version

Yelm is wealthier than most US places, with a median household income of $90,750. The city has more than doubled in size since 2000, adding 7,813 residents. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $455,300. At a median age of 31.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Poverty is rare here, at 6.1% of residents. It sits in the top 10% of US cities for household income.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 118%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
11,102
+238%since 2000
from 3,289 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1,944 / sq mi
+108%since 2009
from 936 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
31.0
+1%since 2000
from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:12,043 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3973K6K9K12K1990201020202024Yelm
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(733)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 910%(1,115)
US avg: 6%
10 to 148%(892)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.4%(706)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 248.7%(963)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3418.4%(2,038)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4414%(1,558)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5413.3%(1,476)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 647.6%(846)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 743.6%(399)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 842.4%(264)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1%(112)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$90,750
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,453 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$34,142
+115%since 2000
from $15,865 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
66.2%
+29.5 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
6.1%
−4.0 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.320
−8%since 2010
from 0.348 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information16%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade8.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance5.9%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services2.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$455,300
+118%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $114,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,626
+43%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $625 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
66.6%
+11.2 ptssince 2000
from 55.3% in 2000
33.4% rent
Vacancy rate
1.2%
−9.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.1% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
32.6%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
42.1%
−19.9 ptssince 2009
from 62.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.0
+31%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
72
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Yelm on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(2,740)
Black1.7%(57)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(176)
Asian1.7%(56)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic63.2%(7,012)
Black4.8%(530)
Hispanic / Latino16.3%(1,809)
Asian1.3%(145)
Other14.5%(1,606)
Diversity Score
69
+85%since 2009
from 37 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican10.7%(1,190)
Puerto Rican2.5%(278)
Cuban1.1%(123)
Spaniard1%(114)
Costa Rican0.2%(22)
Guatemalan0.2%(19)
Asian origin
Filipino0.8%(91)
Japanese0.4%(41)
Korean0.1%(13)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan3.2%(351)
Chamorro0.4%(45)
Ancestry
German12.9%(1,432)
Irish9.3%(1,033)
Italian6.4%(707)
English6.2%(687)
Norwegian5.8%(641)
American5.4%(599)
Polish4.9%(543)
Arab2.7%(300)
Jordanian1.9%(207)
French1.5%(169)
Dutch1.3%(149)
+ 20 more ancestry groups with data
Swedish1.3%(145)
Scottish1.1%(121)
Croatian1%(110)
Danish0.9%(104)
British0.9%(96)
Greek0.8%(89)
Scotch-Irish0.6%(63)
Nigerian0.5%(60)
Russian0.5%(54)
Portuguese0.5%(53)
West Indian0.4%(49)
Jamaican0.4%(49)
Egyptian0.3%(34)
Welsh0.3%(29)
Finnish0.2%(18)
Austrian0.2%(17)
Czech0.2%(17)
Canadian0.1%(16)
Hungarian0.1%(8)
Ukrainian0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Mexican population · Largest Irish population · Largest Italian population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.4%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
93.3%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 89.0% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+4.4 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
33.8 min
+46%since 2000
from 23.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
71.7%
−4.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
12.7%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 15.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
1.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.7%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.7%
−2.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.6%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.8%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
69.7%
+8.6 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
16.0%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 19.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
32.6%
−28.2 ptssince 2009
from 60.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.7%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
49.3%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
+7.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
18.6%
−23.3 ptssince 2009
from 41.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
16.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2012
from 15.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.0%
−82.9 ptssince 2013
from 87.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.3%
+8.0 ptssince 2017
from 83.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.2%
+0.5 ptssince 2016
from 87.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
5.5%
−2.3 ptssince 2016
from 7.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married30.7%(1,284)
Married61.1%(2,555)
Widowed1%(41)
Divorced7.2%(302)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(1,124)
Married52.8%(2,209)
Widowed4.7%(195)
Divorced15.6%(652)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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YELM VS
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Home value$457,100same
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YELM VS
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YELM VS
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YELM VS
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Yelm, Washington?

Yelm, Washington has about 11,102 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Yelm, Washington?

The typical household in Yelm, Washington earns about $90,750 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Yelm, Washington expensive?

In Yelm, Washington, the median home is worth about $455,300, and the typical rent is about $1,626 a month.

How educated are people in Yelm, Washington?

About 27.4% of adults age 25 and over in Yelm, Washington hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Yelm, Washington?

About 6.1% of people in Yelm, Washington live below the federal poverty line.

Has Yelm, Washington grown since 1990?

Yes, Yelm, Washington has grown since 1990. The population has added about 9,732 residents, a change of about 710 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →

Yelm, Washington: demographics, income & housing data · CensusEasy