Yelm, Washington

About Yelm

The city of Yelm is a rapidly growing community located just north of Olympia, south of Lacey and Joint Base Lewis McChord and east of Tumwater. Original inhabitants were members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe who found the prairie to be good pasture for their horses. Today, Yelm still calls itself the "Pride of the Prairie."

The first American residents arrived in 1853 to join the Hudson's Bay Company sheep farmers already in the area. The name Yelm comes from the Coast Salish word "shelm," used to describe the shimmering effect of heat waves rising from the prairie.

Yelm prospered after 1873 when the Northern Pacific Railway arrived, giving the area a means of transporting its agricultural and timber products to market. It was incorporated in 1924.

Today Yelm is primarily a bedroom community for Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Tacoma and Joint Base Lewis McChord. Its rural character and abundance of wide-open, affordable land offers those searching for homes the chance buy more home and land, yet still be an easy commute from work. Military retirees also find the Yelm area a great place to return once their service is done.

Yelm offers an affordable cost of living, and a mild, temperate climate conducive to year 'round enjoyment of the countless outdoor activities an area blessed with such uncommon natural beauty has to offer.

Yelm is proud of its slower-pace and location in the midst of the outdoor wonders of the Pacific Northwest. As its population has grown, so have local opportunities for soothing any desire for shopping, arts, culture, history and employment.

Geography

Yelm is located in rural Thurston County near its border with Pierce County to the north. It is centrally located between the major metropolitan areas of Seattle, Washington to the north and Portland, Oregon to the south. It is also midway between the Cascade Mountain range and it's crown jewel, Mt. Rainier to the east, and the Pacific Ocean beaches of Washington's western coast.

With its central location, Yelm is also a hub for major transportation modes. Interstate 5 and Amtrak's rail lines – two main north/south travel corridors for the western United States, are minutes away in Lacey. To the west, US Highways 101 and 12 offer easy access to the Olympic Peninsula and Pacific Ocean. A regional airport serving general aviation from light planes and helicopters up to corporate jets is nearby in Tumwater.

Yelm Real Estate

People searching for housing in Yelm will find price points for new homes are below $200K for a standard 3-bed, 2-bath, 1,500 sq. ft. home. Builders/developers have recently created several new residential developments such as Tahoma Meadows, Yelm Creek Estates, Mountain Sunrise and John’s Meadows to name a few. All of these neighborhoods have homes priced well below $300,000 and some below $200,000.

If you are looking for a bit more country feel, some of the surrounding areas may be appealing. Bald Hills, Lake Lawrence and the Clearwood community are a few of the surrounding communities that have a rural setting.

Mean real estate prices in 2008:

All housing units $244,667
Detached houses $258,686
Townhouses or other attached units $285,538
In 2-unit structures $255,863
Mobile homes $78,725

Weather

Located a short distance inland, Yelm enjoys a slightly warmer and drier temperate climate than its more coastal neighbors in western Washington State.

Jan April July Oct
Avg. Temp 39 49 63 50
Precip in inches 6.5 3 0.8 3.5

Population

Yelm population as of July 2008 stands at 5,800 people, a 76.3% increase from the 2000 census count. An average of 2.67 persons occupy the 1,216 households in Yelm. Median age is 30.8 years, significantly younger than the Washington state average of 35.3.

Employment

Many Yelm residents work for Washington State government and healthcare and educational employers in Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater. Civilian employees and active duty Army and Air Force personnel live in Yelm and commute to Lewis/McChord. Others commute north to Tacoma or Seattle.

Job growth has been positive commensurate with the population increase. As the rising population numbers drive more chain restaurant and big-box retailers to the area, retail and service job availability grows. Average commute time for Yelm residents is 30+ minutes each way.

Income

Median household income in 2008 was $52,497, up from $39,453 in 2000. 10.5% of the families are below the poverty line.

Cost of Living

The Cost of Living Index for Yelm is 95 as of December 2009. The average for all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas participating in the Cost of Living Index = 100.

Yelm Schools

Public education in Yelm is provided by the Yelm School District. More than 5,400 students from the city and surrounding Thurston County are served by 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school and 1 extension high school.

89% of Yelm residents over age 25 have earned a high school diploma or higher level of education. Post-secondary education is available at two public colleges in Olympia: South Puget Sound Community College, a two-year community and technical school, and The Evergreen State College, a nationally ranked environmental and liberal arts college. Saint Martin's University in Lacey is a private, Benedictine institution offering four-year and graduate degrees. Two private universities in nearby Tacoma are Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound. The University of Washington operates a branch campus in downtown Tacoma. In addition, Tacoma Community College offers courses in Tacoma and on base at Lewis/McChord.