At a Glance
Median Income
$66,194
$30,412 per capita
Home Value
$379,200
Zillow: $367,457
Median Rent
$987/mo
30.4% of income on rent
Violent Crime
231/100K
1,530/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
18.6%
81.0% high school+
Unemployment
5.5%
17.4% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
36.1%
15.9% smoking rate
How Elma Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Elma's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Elma a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.5 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Elma residents earn a median household income of $66,194 , which is 12% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $30,412. The unemployment rate stands at 5.5% (53% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 17.4% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,854 business establishments, including 246 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Elma is $379,200 , 35% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $367,457. Median rent is $987/month, with 30.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 107.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1975.
Safety & Crime
Elma reports 231 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 39% below the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 1,530/100K.
Education
18.6% of adults in Elma hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(45% below the national average).
81.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.7/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Elma has an average annual temperature of 52°F (11°C).
Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 65°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 72.0 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 20.
Data Overview
People
Population3,452
Median Age42.6 yrs
Density1,251/mi²
Male / Female56% / 45%
Foreign Born6.2%
Veterans8.3%
Economy
B
Median Income$66,194
Per Capita$30,412
Unemployment5.5%
Poverty17.4%
County GDP$3,829M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,092
Housing
B
Home Value$379,200
Rent$987
Ownership62.8%
Zillow$367,457
Housing Units1,386
Rent Burden30.4%
Crime
F
Violent231/100K
Property1,530/100K
Health
Obesity36.1%
Diabetes10.3%
Smoking15.9%
Heart Disease5.9%
Premature Death10,513/100K
Climate
Avg Temp52°F
Rain72.0 in/yr
AQI20 (Good)
Elevation55 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+18.6%
High School+81.0%
Graduate+5.8%
School Score4.7/10
Community
2024 VoteR 52% / D 46%
Commute28 min
Broadband86.3%
Internet Speed100 Mbps
EV Stations1
Libraries9
Did You Know?
Elma was founded in 1853.
The median home in Elma was built in 1975.
The nearest airport is Olympia Regional (24 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.440 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively High" by FEMA.
21.6% of the population has a disability.
Average internet download speed is 100 Mbps.
There are 246 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 15 fatal vehicle crashes.
91 declared natural disasters on record.