Marietta-Alderwood, WA vs Yelm, WA

Yelm is moderately more affordable than Marietta-Alderwood, with a 5.5% lower cost of living index. Marietta-Alderwood scores 121 compared to 115 for Yelm, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Marietta-Alderwood can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Marietta-Alderwood is $1,450/month compared to $1,363/month in Yelm — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Yelm is more affordable at $439,100 median vs $493,200.

Median household income in Marietta-Alderwood is $62,243 compared to $88,279 in Yelm (-29.5%). Yelm offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Marietta-Alderwood spend roughly 28% of their income on rent, more than the 18.5% in Yelm.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.2°F vs 50.5°F). Yelm receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 34.7" in Marietta-Alderwood.