Rents are 6% above what Yelm's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,364 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Yelm is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2023.
Rent in Yelm changed +11.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($90,750) is $2,269 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,860); a 3-bedroom is $2,550.
Lacey, 19 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,075/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Yelm. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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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.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Yelm, WA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Yelm, WA has shifted from $1,909 to $2,364, up 23.8% since 2023. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $83,027 in 2021 to $90,750 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. 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.
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Can you afford rent in Yelm on your salary?
At $2,364/mo, how Yelm rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Yelm rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Yelm. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Yelm
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Yelm is $2,364/mo as of October 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 31% of local median household income ($90,750/yr), Yelm ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 11.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Yelm?
Is rent going up or down in Yelm?
How does Yelm rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Yelm?
At $2,364/mo, rent takes ~31% of Yelm's median household income ($90,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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