Zip code 98597: Yelm, Washington

Q: What city is zip code 98597?

98597 is assigned to Yelm, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 98597 in?

98597 is in Thurston County, Washington.

Q: What is the population of 98597?

About 26,669 people live in 98597, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 98597?

The median household income in 98597 is $92,219.

Q: What zip codes are near 98597?

The closest zip codes to 98597 are 98558, 98576, 98348, 98580, 98509.

Residential delivery areaThurston CountyPacific Time

Population

26,669

Median household income

$92K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$448K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,638/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

36.7

U.S. 38.9

Land area

111 sq mi

240 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 98597

98597 is a small-town zip code in Yelm, Washington (Thurston County), covering 111 sq mi of land. About 26,669 people live here, or 240 per square mile. The median resident is 36.7 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $92,219 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $447,600, or 4.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,638 a month.

24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 36.2 minutes each way, and 11% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods.

How 98597 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Veterans17.9%
99th
U.S. 6.2% · WA 7.8%36th of 571 in WA
Government workers25.9%
96th
U.S. 14.5% · WA 16%131st of 570 in WA
Average commute36.2 min
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · WA 26.6 min65th of 546 in WA
Homeownership rate78.2%
74th
U.S. 65.2% · WA 63.8%235th of 563 in WA
Residents under 1824.7%
72nd
U.S. 22% · WA 21.4%142nd of 571 in WA
Median home value$447,600
69th
U.S. $332,700 · WA $564,600279th of 536 in WA
Median earnings per worker$54,274
66th
U.S. $49,666 · WA $59,959264th of 566 in WA
Median household income$92,219
64th
U.S. $80,734 · WA $98,141220th of 541 in WA
Median gross rent$1,638
63rd
U.S. $1,413 · WA $1,760192nd of 475 in WA
Broadband access93.4%
61st
U.S. 91% · WA 93.6%251st of 563 in WA
Tech workers3%
52nd
U.S. 3.8% · WA 6.7%255th of 570 in WA
Uninsured rate6.8%
50th
U.S. 8.4% · WA 6.3%217th of 567 in WA
Housing vacancy6.4%
48th
U.S. 10.1% · WA 7.3%317th of 563 in WA
Per capita income$39,279
47th
U.S. $44,673 · WA $53,744339th of 570 in WA
Rent-burdened renters49.4%
45th
U.S. 51.1% · WA 49.9%237th of 541 in WA
Population26,669
43rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · WA 7,816,116131st of 571 in WA
Diversity index43.9
42nd
U.S. 61.4 · WA 56.5248th of 571 in WA
Work from home11%
40th
U.S. 15.1% · WA 19.8%368th of 570 in WA
Foreign-born residents6.3%
35th
U.S. 14.1% · WA 15.4%306th of 571 in WA
Self-employed workers8%
33rd
U.S. 10% · WA 9.6%389th of 570 in WA
Median age36.7
32nd
U.S. 38.9 · WA 38.3433rd of 571 in WA
Bachelor's degree or higher24.1%
32nd
U.S. 35.7% · WA 39.6%342nd of 571 in WA
Poverty rate7.8%
30th
U.S. 12.5% · WA 9.9%361st of 563 in WA
Population density240/sq mi
23rd
U.S. 95/sq mi · WA 118/sq mi253rd of 571 in WA
Residents 65 and older12.6%
21st
U.S. 17.2% · WA 16.6%470th of 571 in WA
Healthcare workers7.5%
21st
U.S. 9.7% · WA 9.3%331st of 570 in WA
Unemployment rate3%
16th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · WA 5.1%419th of 570 in WA
Income inequality (Gini)0.345
2nd
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · WA 0.469504th of 560 in WA

Measure	98597	Thurston	WA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in WA
Veterans	17.9%	12.6%	7.8%	6.2%	99th	36th of 571
Government workers	25.9%	29.8%	16%	14.5%	96th	131st of 570
Average commuteWeakness	36.2 min	25.8 min	26.6 min	26.4 min	93rd	65th of 546
Homeownership rate	78.2%	67.7%	63.8%	65.2%	74th	235th of 563
Residents under 18	24.7%	20.9%	21.4%	22%	72nd	142nd of 571
Median home value	$447,600	$480,300	$564,600	$332,700	69th	279th of 536
Median earnings per worker	$54,274	$57,387	$59,959	$49,666	66th	264th of 566
Median household income	$92,219	$96,563	$98,141	$80,734	64th	220th of 541
Median gross rent	$1,638	$1,736	$1,760	$1,413	63rd	192nd of 475
Broadband access	93.4%	94.5%	93.6%	91%	61st	251st of 563
Tech workers	3%	4.6%	6.7%	3.8%	52nd	255th of 570
Uninsured rate	6.8%	5%	6.3%	8.4%	50th	217th of 567
Housing vacancy	6.4%	5%	7.3%	10.1%	48th	317th of 563
Per capita income	$39,279	$46,136	$53,744	$44,673	47th	339th of 570
Rent-burdened renters	49.4%	55.4%	49.9%	51.1%	45th	237th of 541
Population	26,669	299,067	7,816,116	334,922,499	43rd	131st of 571
Diversity index	43.9	49.4	56.5	61.4	42nd	248th of 571
Work from home	11%	20.5%	19.8%	15.1%	40th	368th of 570
Foreign-born residents	6.3%	8.3%	15.4%	14.1%	35th	306th of 571
Self-employed workers	8%	8.5%	9.6%	10%	33rd	389th of 570
Median age	36.7	40	38.3	38.9	32nd	433rd of 571
Bachelor's degree or higher	24.1%	38.5%	39.6%	35.7%	32nd	342nd of 571
Poverty rate	7.8%	9.5%	9.9%	12.5%	30th	361st of 563
Population density	240/sq mi	414/sq mi	118/sq mi	95/sq mi	23rd	253rd of 571
Residents 65 and older	12.6%	18.7%	16.6%	17.2%	21st	470th of 571
Healthcare workers	7.5%	10.2%	9.3%	9.7%	21st	331st of 570
Unemployment rateStrength	3%	5.2%	5.1%	5.2%	16th	419th of 570
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.345	0.403	0.469	0.483	2nd	504th of 560

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

19%

5–17

18–24

14%

25–34

15%

35–44

13%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

36.7

Under 18

24.7%

65 and over

12.6%

Race and ethnicity

White74%
Black3%
Hispanic12%
Asian1%
Native American1.0%
Pacific Islander2%
Other0.2%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

43.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

6.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

42.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

85%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.8%

Households

Households: 9,715
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 70.5%
Married couples: 54.9%
Living alone: 21.2%
Veterans (of adults): 17.9%
Male / female: 53% / 47%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

17%

$100–150k

26%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

Median household income

98597

$92,219

Thurston Co.

$96,563

Washington

$98,141

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$39,279

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

7.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

18.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.345

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

98597

$447,600

Thurston Co.

$480,300

Washington

$564,600

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

98597

$1,638

Thurston Co.

$1,736

Washington

$1,760

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

79%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

14%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 10,384
Owner-occupied: 78.2%
Vacant: 6.4%
Median year built: 1998
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 49.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 14.1%
Home value to income: 4.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

73%

Carpooled

11%

Transit

0.5%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

11%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

10%

20–29

16%

30–44

27%

45–59

22%

60+

15%

Average commute

36.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

12%

Construction and repair

12%

Transportation and moving

10%

Sales

Office and admin

Education

Healthcare

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Production

Police and fire

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

0.6%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.6%

Industries

Health care and social assistance

13%

Retail

13%

Public administration

11%

Construction

10%

Education

10%

Restaurants and hotels

Manufacturing

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Professional and technical services

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

0.9%

Information

0.8%

Median earnings per worker

$54,274

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

U.S. 10%

Government workers

25.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	98597	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$67,032	$74,888
Service	$37,660	$26,804
Sales and office	$38,802	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$67,411	$49,199
Production and transportation	$61,250	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

27%

Some college

29%

Associate's

11%

Bachelor's

15%

Graduate

10%

High school graduate or higher: 91.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.5%
Households with broadband: 93.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81.8%
No internet access: 4.8%
Without health insurance: 6.8%
Limited-English households: 0.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Yelm
State: Washington
County: Thurston County
Center point: 46.8443° N, 122.4929° W
Land area: 111 sq mi
Water area: 3.8 sq mi
Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC-8, UTC-7 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Yelm4% of zip
North Yelm (unincorporated)3% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 98597

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
98558	McKenna, WA	7.1 mi	61	—	—
98576	Rainier, WA	7.4 mi	4,985	$104,896	$446,900
98348	La Grande, WA · PO box	8.3 mi	—	—	—
98580	Roy, WA	9.9 mi	11,410	$104,684	$542,800
98509	Lacey, WA · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
98540	East Olympia, WA · PO box	14 mi	—	—	—
98533	Cinebar, WA	14 mi	890	$39,208	$476,500
98589	Tenino, WA	14 mi	7,010	$83,855	$438,700
98513	Olympia, WA	15 mi	38,017	$113,053	$470,700
98328	Eatonville, WA	16 mi	9,891	$103,696	$591,800
98387	Spanaway, WA	16 mi	50,774	$106,872	$461,000
98344	Kapowsin, WA · PO box	16 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 98597 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 98597

What city is zip code 98597?

98597 is assigned to Yelm, Washington. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 98597 in?

98597 is in Thurston County, Washington.

What is the population of 98597?

About 26,669 people live in 98597, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 98597 in?

98597 is in Pacific Time.

What is the median household income in 98597?

The median household income in 98597 is $92,219.

What zip codes are near 98597?

The closest zip codes to 98597 are 98558, 98576, 98348, 98580, 98509.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 98597, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.