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CITY · 2020 ACS

Yelm

Washington · 10,617 residents · 5.71 sq mi
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The short version

With 10,617 people, Yelm is a city in Washington. The population has roughly tripled since 2000, adding 7,328 people. This skews young, with a median age of 29.9. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 21% of adults. People stay put here: 74% were in the same home a year ago. Getting to work takes 38 minutes on average.

At a glance
Wealthier
above the US median
US median: $66,278
Younger
median age 29.9
US median: 38.8
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

10,617
+223%since 2000
from 3,289 in 2000
1990 – 2025
29.9
−3%since 2000
from 30.8 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
5.71 sq mi
Population, 19902024
3973K6K9K12K19902000201020202024Yelm
202411K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 59.4%(1,002)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 99.2%(982)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 149.3%(985)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 196.9%(729)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246.6%(703)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3418.1%(1,918)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 4415.2%(1,613)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 5410.1%(1,075)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 646.7%(716)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 744.6%(488)
US avg: 10%
75 to 842.6%(278)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over1.2%(128)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

$77,297
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,453 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$25,658
+62%since 2000
from $15,865 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
52.7%
+16.1 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
5.7%
−4.4 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information17.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade12.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Retail trade4.8%
US avg: 10%
Finance & insurance4.3%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical4.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Other services3.6%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration3.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.7%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction0.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing0.5%
US avg: 2.5%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

$270,900
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $114,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$1,358
+45%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $625 in 2000
US average: $1,124
63.6%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 55.3% in 2000
36.4% rent
3.19 people
+4%since 2009
from 3.08 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.5
−8%since 2009
from 3.8 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.3%(2,740)
Black1.7%(57)
Hispanic / Latino5.4%(176)
Asian1.7%(56)
Other0%
2020
White, non-Hispanic67.3%(7,141)
Black3.2%(342)
Hispanic / Latino12%(1,275)
Asian3.5%(369)
Other12.1%(1,280)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican6%(552)
Guatemalan1.1%(101)
Spaniard0.5%(49)
Puerto Rican0.4%(38)
Cuban0.4%(38)
Asian origin
Korean0.5%(44)
Filipino0.3%(31)
Japanese0.3%(24)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro1.7%(158)
Samoan1.1%(105)
Ancestry
German20.1%(1,864)
Irish16.8%(1,553)
American5%(461)
Italian4.8%(445)
English4.8%(443)
Polish3.2%(295)
Norwegian2.9%(273)
Scottish2.9%(266)
French1.9%(178)
Welsh1.8%(166)
Scotch-Irish1.7%(161)
Canadian1.4%(126)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
British1.2%(109)
Swedish1.2%(107)
Danish0.9%(87)
Russian0.6%(60)
Austrian0.6%(59)
Dutch0.6%(52)
Turkish0.6%(52)
Portuguese0.5%(42)
Ukrainian0.3%(24)
Greek0.2%(21)
Czech0.1%(11)
Finnish0.1%(10)
Lithuanian0.1%(9)
Section 05

Education

20.7%
+3.0 ptssince 2000
from 17.7% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
93.7%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 89.0% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
4.7%
−1.5 ptssince 2000
from 6.2% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

37.9 min
+63%since 2000
from 23.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
83.7%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 75.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
5.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

4.7%
−3.8 ptssince 2011
from 8.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
64.7%
+3.7 ptssince 2011
from 61.1% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
70.6%
US average: 73.3%
34.3%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 37.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

49.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
51.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
2.6%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.2% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.1%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
94.3%
US average: 91.9%
73.5%
US average: 86.2%
Marital status (2024)
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
Section 09

Health coverage

5.1%
−7.0 ptssince 2013
from 12.1% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
46.1%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
5.9%
US average: 13.7%
9.2%
US average: 17.6%
16.4%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
6.3%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
79.1%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
28.1%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)66.4%(690)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)44.9%(467)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era13.5%(140)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War0%(0)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 1,039 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 10,617 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Yelm, Washington?

The typical household in Yelm, Washington earns about $77,297 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 $270,900, and the typical rent is about $1,358 a month.

How educated are people in Yelm, Washington?

About 20.7% 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 5.7% 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 9,247 residents, a change of about 675 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 →