2025 Compare Cities Overview:
Yelm, WA vs Olympia, WA

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Highlights
Are people in Olympia older or younger than people in Yelm?
- The Median Age in Olympia is 7.1 years older than in Yelm.

Are housing costs cheaper in Olympia or Yelm?
- Olympia housing costs are 6.6% more expensive than Yelm housing costs.

Which city has a longer commute, Olympia or Yelm?
- The average commute for residents of Olympia is 12.4 minutes shorter than it is for residents of Yelm.

Things to do in Yelm?
Yelm, WA is a vibrant small town in the heart of rural Pacific Northwest. With easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and more, Yelm offers a great balance between city life and nature. The downtown area consists of quaint shops and restaurants that give it a distinct charm. Residents of Yelm enjoy the diverse population which includes many different cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. However, due to the small size of the town there is a strong sense of community and residents look out for one another. The schools in Yelm provide excellent education opportunities for all students. Overall, living in Yelm is an enjoyable experience with lots of great people and plenty of natural beauty surrounding it!

Things to do in Olympia?
Olympia, Washington is a scenic city located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Home to the majestic Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound, Olympia offers an unrivaled combination of urban amenities and spectacular natural beauty. Visitors can explore its vibrant downtown district with its numerous shops, galleries and restaurants or spend time outdoors enjoying activities like fishing, hiking, kayaking and bird watching. With a thriving arts community, diverse population and welcoming atmosphere, Olympia is a great place to visit or call home!

 Yelm, WAOlympia, WAUnited States
 Population  Unlock54,579329,725,481
 Median Income$83,027  Unlock$69,021
 Median Age  Unlock38.438.4
 Avg. Home Price$443,200  Unlock$338,100
 Unemployment Rate  Unlock5.6%6.0%
 Avg. Commute Time32.91  Unlock26.38
Reviews for Yelm    2 Reviews

Over 16 years ago

Yelm is a very nice city to live in. Small enough to have that small town flavor but big enough not to be cramped. Has access to pretty much everywhere you want to go.  More

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I've lived in Yelm 2 years now and LOVE IT! We moved here to get away of the crazyness and extreamly crampedness of the "suburbia"of Puyallup which is just outside of  More

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Reviews for Olympia    39 Reviews

We moved here from Kitsap Bremerton/Silverdale WA area and this beats it all the way in all material ways. The only reason not to give it 5 stars is the cost of  More

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Over 4 years ago

The city is horrible. The business have been chased out by homeless. The city government makes it for difficult for businesses to thrive. If you like what Seattle is  More

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Having lived all over the world we decided to retire in Olympia and live on the Puget Sound. Yes it rains but the weather can change dramatically in a day with sun and  More

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