Yelm is a city in Thurston County, Washington, home to about 11,102 people across 5.7 square miles. Its ZIP code is 98597, and parts of 98576 are in Yelm too.
Homes sold for a median of $272 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.
Mostly Yelm; also North Yelm
Mostly Rainier; part is in Yelm
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Yelm. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Yelm’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)39 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Olympia Regional Airport (OLM)15 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Seattle, WA50 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Yelm; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Yelm had 10,617 residents in the 2020 census, up 223% since 2000.
It’s the 119th largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.
Thurston County grew from 9,927 residents in 1900 to 294,793 in 2020.
Thurston County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 78°F in summer, and winter lows average 32°F. About 50.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 4 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Olympia Ap, WA weather station (15 miles away).
86,664 jobs at 6,656 businesses in Thurston County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
104 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Yelm.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 12 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 3 |
| Dentists | 15 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 11 |
| Mental health providers | 33 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 21 |
| Optometrists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 8 |
| Pharmacies | 6 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (1 nearby)
Grocery stores (2 nearby)
Pharmacies
Libraries (1 nearby)
Counts are within about 2 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Yelm School District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Stevens ElementaryYelm | Pre-K–5 | 462 | Public | 2.0 mi |
| Lackamas ElementaryYelm | Pre-K–5 | 290 | Public | 7.0 mi |
| Mill Pond Elementary SchoolYelm | Pre-K–5 | 374 | Public | 1.4 mi |
| Southworth ElementaryYelm | Pre-K–5 | 671 | Public | 4.2 mi |
| Yelm Prairie ElementaryYelm | Pre-K–5 | 427 | Public | 1.1 mi |
| Ridgeline Middle SchoolYelm | 6–8 | 568 | Public | 1.5 mi |
| Yelm Middle SchoolYelm | 6–8 | 652 | Public | 2.2 mi |
| Yelm Extension SchoolYelm | 9–12 | 116 | Alternative Education | 2.0 mi |
| Yelm High School 12Yelm | 9–12 | 1,693 | Public | 2.7 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagle View Christian SchoolYelm | Pre-K–12 | 171 | Christian (no specific denomination) | 1.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with North Yelm and Rainier.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.