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CITY · 2000 CENSUS

Yelm

Washington · 3,289 residents · 5.71 sq mi
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The short version

Yelm is home to 3,289 people in Washington. The population has more than doubled since 1990, adding 1,919 people. This skews young, with a median age of 30.8. Owners hold 55% of the housing stock. About 18% of adults have finished a four-year degree. The average commute runs 23 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Younger
median age 30.8
US median: 35.2
Less educated
18% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 54%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
3,289
+140%since 1990
from 1,370 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Median age
30.8
+11%since 1990
from 27.8 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Land area
5.71 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
3973K6K9K12K19902000201020202024Yelm
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 58.9%(294)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 99.5%(312)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.3%(274)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.9%(260)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 246.6%(216)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3415.5%(511)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4415.8%(521)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5410.2%(335)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 646.4%(212)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 745.5%(180)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 843.6%(119)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.7%(55)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$39,453
+57%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $19,053 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$15,865
+99%since 1990
from $7,980 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.1%
−10.2 ptssince 1990
from 20.2% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$114,900
+54%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $56,600 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$625
+25%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $379 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
55.3%
−1.2 ptssince 1990
from 56.5% in 1990
44.7% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic93.2%(1,277)
Black1.5%(20)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(44)
Asian2.2%(30)
2000
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(2,740)
Black1.7%(57)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(176)
Asian1.7%(56)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

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)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.7%
+7.6 ptssince 1990
from 10.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
89.0%
+9.8 ptssince 1990
from 79.2% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
6.2%
+2.8 ptssince 1990
from 3.4% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
23.2 min
−19%since 1990
from 28.5 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married29.6%(344)
Married58.5%(680)
Widowed2.9%(34)
Divorced9%(104)
Women 15+
Never married21.8%(298)
Married50.4%(688)
Widowed11.5%(157)
Divorced16.3%(223)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
5.0%
−7.1 ptssince 2013
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
48.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 46.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
9.5%
+3.6 ptssince 2020
from 5.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
9.8%
+0.6 ptssince 2020
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2020
from 16.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
7.0%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 6.3% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
79.1%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 79.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
30.8%
+2.7 ptssince 2020
from 28.1% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)70%(869)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)34.8%(432)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era7.8%(97)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War1.8%(22)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,241 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Yelm, Washington?

Yelm, Washington has about 3,289 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Yelm, Washington?

The typical household in Yelm, Washington earns about $39,453 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 $114,900, and the typical rent is about $625 a month.

How educated are people in Yelm, Washington?

About 17.7% 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 10.1% 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 1,919 residents, a change of about 140 percent over that period.

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

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