🇺🇸 United States ZIP Code

STANDARD

98597

Yelm

ZIP Code 98597 is a standard zip code serving Yelm, Yelm, Washington (WA), in Thurston County, United States. It has an estimated population of 21,557 with a median household income of $55,226. The area falls within the America/Los_Angeles timezone.

Median Household Income vs. National Average

Location

Country: 🇺🇸 United States
State / Province: Washington (WA)
County: Thurston
City: Yelm
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles

Coordinates

Latitude: 46.920600
Longitude: -122.588000

Geographic Details

Land Area: 111.59 mi²
Water Area: 3.71 mi²
Population Density: 193.0 people per mi² (60th percentile)
Bounding Box: 46.981643°N, 46.762025°S, -122.202721°E, -122.676499°W

With 21,557 residents spread across 111.59 square miles, this area has a population density of 193.0 people per square mile.

Demographics

21,557

Population

80th percentile

$55,226

Median Income

65th percentile

$210,900

Median Home Value

75th percentile

111.59 mi²

Land Area

The median household income in 98597 is $55,226, and the median home value is $210,900.

Housing

8,649

Total Units

7,843

Occupied Units

90.7%

Occupancy Rate

Similar ZIP Codes in Washington

ZIP codes with similar median household income in Washington.

99111

Colfax

$48,838

98342

Indianola

$61,477

98168

Seattle

$49,233

98683

Vancouver

$54,168

98446

Tacoma

$61,703

98466

Tacoma

$53,559

98498

Lakewood

$54,303

98801

Wenatchee

$51,176

Frequently Asked Questions

What information is available for each ZIP code?

Each ZIP code page shows city, state, county, geographic coordinates, timezone, population, median household income, median home value, housing units, land area, population density, commute time, educational attainment, area codes, and ZIP code type (Standard, PO Box, or Unique).

What are the different types of ZIP codes?

There are three types of ZIP codes: Standard (residential and commercial delivery areas), PO Box (assigned to post office box sections), and Unique (assigned to a single high-volume address like a government agency or large company). Standard ZIP codes are the most common.

How often is ZIP code data updated?

ZIP code assignments are updated quarterly by the USPS. Demographic data comes from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), which releases new 5-year estimates annually. ZipFYI updates its data to reflect the latest available information.

What is population density and why does it matter?

Population density measures the number of people per square mile in a ZIP code area. It helps identify urban vs. rural areas, affects real estate values, impacts service availability, and is used in market analysis. Dense urban ZIP codes may have 50,000+ people per square mile.

How are ZIP code boundaries determined?

ZIP code boundaries are determined by the USPS based on mail delivery routes, not political or geographic boundaries. They follow carrier routes and may cross city, county, or even state lines. Boundaries can change when the USPS reorganizes delivery operations.

What does median household income tell me about a ZIP code?

Median household income is the middle value when all household incomes in a ZIP code are sorted. Half of households earn more and half earn less. It is a better indicator of typical earnings than average income, which can be skewed by very high or very low outliers.