How much does it cost to rent in Yelm, WA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Yelm, WA is $2,234. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Yelm cheaper than other Washington cities?

Yelm falls in the middle range for Washington, ranking #40 out of 110 cities at $2,234/mo.

When was Yelm rent data last updated?

Yelm rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Is Yelm a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Yelm is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 6.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Yelm, WA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Yelm, WA at $1,860 per month, which is 17% below the $2,234 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · WA

Yelm

Name: Average Rent Prices in Yelm, WA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 11,102·40th most expensive in Washington·Yelm rents have dropped 6.0%, currently a renter's market

Median rent (all units)

$2,234/mo

Year-over-Year

-6.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$272

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Yelm · $2,234

More expensive than 70% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

70/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Yelm's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,234/mo

Expected by trend

$2,478/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Yelm's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,410

1 BR

$1,600

2 BR

$1,860

3 BR

$2,550

4 BR+

$3,120

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,860/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,234 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$26,808/yr

At $2,234/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 6.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-6.0% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Yelm, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 27.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

11,102

Median income

$90,750

Median age

Renters

33.4%

Age distribution

29.4%

28.7%

27.3%

Under 1829.4%

18–3428.7%

35–5427.3%

55–647.6%

65+7%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

64.8%

16.3%

12.3%

White64.8%

Black5.3%

Hispanic16.3%

Asian1.3%

Other12.3%

Education (25+)

29.3%

36.7%

27.4%

No HS diploma6.7%

HS diploma29.3%

Some college36.7%

Bachelor's+27.4%

Housing tenure

66.6%

33.4%

Owner66.6%

Renter33.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Yelm, WA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,026 → $2,234

up 10.3%

Income

$83,027 → $90,750

up 9.3%

Population

10,205 → 11,102

up 8.8%

Renter share

32.3% → 33.4%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

20% → 27.4%

+7.4 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Yelm, WA has shifted from $2,026 to $2,234, up 10.3% since 2023. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $83,027 in 2021 to $90,750 more recently. Census counts show Yelm, WA adding about 897 residents over the five-year window, up 8.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 20% to 27.4% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Yelm, WA market of 2023.

Community

Discussions about Yelm

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Yelm rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Yelm on your salary?

At $2,234/mo, how Yelm rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $105,818/yr · Rent = 25.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $75,130/yr · Rent = 35.7% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $86,542/yr · Rent = 31% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $154,683/yr · Rent = 17.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $197,646/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $70,347/yr · Rent = 38.1% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $63,515/yr · Rent = 42.2% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $78,288/yr · Rent = 34.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Yelm rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Yelm. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Yelm

About renting in Yelm, WA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Yelm is $2,234/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,860/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,550/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($90,750/yr), Yelm ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 6.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Yelm an affordable city for renters?

Yelm is considered moderate for renters. At $2,234/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($90,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Yelm slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Yelm?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $89,000/year (~$43/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,234/mo in Yelm. The local median household income is $90,750/yr, meaning the typical Yelm household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Yelm?

Rent in Yelm has decreased 6.0% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Yelm rent compare to other cities in Washington?

Yelm is middle-of-the-pack for Washington for rent, ranking #40 out of 110 tracked cities at $2,234/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Yelm?

Clover Creek is nearby and more affordable at $2,066/mo, which is $168 less than Yelm.

What percentage of Yelm residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 33.4% of Yelm households are renters, while 66.6% are owner-occupied. Yelm leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Yelm rent compare to the national average?

Yelm's median rent of $2,234/mo is $272 (14%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Washington, it ranks #40 out of 110 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

30%

MODERATE

At $2,234/mo, rent takes ~30% of Yelm's median household income ($90,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Yelm 30%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Yelm affordability calculator →

Nearby cities