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Area data

Yelm, WA — ZIP 98597

Population: 26,669 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 98597 (Yelm, WA) is $490,244 — up 0.6% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $500,000 after a median 20 days on market. Typical rent runs $2,234/month. 9 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively High, with earthquake, landslide, heatwave the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 7.5% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$490,244

Median home value

+0.6%

1-year change

20

Median days on market

Relatively High

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$490,244
1-year appreciation
+0.6%
3-year appreciation
+5.1%
5-year appreciation
+11.5%
10-year appreciation
+118.4%
All-time peak (2022-07)
$496,706
House Price Index (state)
588.1 (+2.2% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$500,000
Median list price
$494,950
Median price per sqft
$261
1-year sale-price change
+3.1%
Median days on market
20 days
Homes sold (recent period)
114
For-sale inventory
186
Sale-to-list ratio
100.5%
Active listings
150
1-year forecast
-0.3%
Days to pending
43 days
New listings (monthly)
64

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,234/mo
1-year rent change
+6.3%
Studio fair-market rent
$1,083/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,354/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,680/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,183/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,519/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
107.5 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
13.1¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$17.60/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
9
Elementary schools
5
Middle schools
2
High schools
2
Schools include
Yelm Extension School, Mill Pond Elementary School, Southworth Elementary, Yelm High School 12, Yelm Middle School

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively High
Top hazards (county)
earthquake, landslide, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively Low · earthquake: Relatively High · heatWave: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively Moderate · landslide: Relatively High
FEMA flood zone
AE
Flood risk level
High
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 28% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
42.0%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Fort Lewis Logistics Center (18.8 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
53.0°F
Average high
62.0°F
Average low
44.0°F
Annual precipitation
38.9 in
Annual snowfall
13.0 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8b (extreme annual low 15 to 20°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
28
Days with Good air quality
327
Days with Moderate air quality
31
Highest AQI recorded (year)
82

Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
3.3 / 20
Transit service frequency
-99,999
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
3,349
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
6,082

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
3
Nearest national park
Mount Rainier National Park (37 mi)
National parks include
Mount Rainier National Park, Wing Luke Museum Affiliated Area, Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
42
Nearest airport
Skyraider Skyranch Airport (1 mi)
Nearest major airport
Gray Army Air Field (GRF) (17 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
2
Hospitals include
PROVIDENCE ST PETER HOSPITAL, SOUTH SOUND BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Poor (3.4 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+564 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,998
Housing built before 1970
9.1%
Housing built 2000 or later
44.9%
Median annual property tax
$3,524
Mean commute to work
32 min
Households with broadband internet
81.8%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
84,684
Average weekly wage
$1,194
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Professional Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
646

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 98597State medianUS median
Median home value$490,244$504,993$289,727
Median sale price$500,000$510,000$325,000
Median days on market20 days29 days51 days
Typical rent$2,234/mo$2,041/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$3,524$3,381$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 98597?
$490,244.
What is the median sale price in ZIP 98597?
$500,000.
How long do homes take to sell in ZIP 98597?
Median days on market: 20 days.
What is typical rent in ZIP 98597?
Typical rent: $2,234/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 98597?
Overall risk: Relatively High (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: earthquake, landslide, heatWave, iceStorm, inlandFlooding.
Is ZIP 98597 in a flood zone?
High (FEMA NFIP). FEMA flood zone AE.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 98597?
Risk to homes is higher than 28% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 98597?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 98597?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 98597?
9 schools (5 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
Is ZIP 98597 walkable?
Walkability index: 3.3/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in ZIP 98597?
Good. Median AQI: 28. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 98597?
Regional Price Parity: 107.5 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

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