Maple Valley, WA vs Yelm, WA

The cost of living difference between Maple Valley, WA and Yelm, WA is dramatic. Yelm is 40.5% cheaper than Maple Valley, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Maple Valley has a cost index of 161 while Yelm sits at 115, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Maple Valley is $2,189/month compared to $1,363/month in Yelm — a 61% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Yelm is more affordable at $439,100 median vs $672,000.

Median household income in Maple Valley is $147,546 compared to $88,279 in Yelm (+67.1%). While Maple Valley is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Maple Valley spend roughly 17.8% of their income on rent, less than the 18.5% in Yelm.

Climate-wise, Maple Valley is notably warmer with an average of 53.6°F compared to 50.5°F in Yelm. Yelm receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 34.7" in Maple Valley.