Oak Harbor, WA vs Yelm, WA

Yelm is moderately more affordable than Oak Harbor, with a 6% lower cost of living index. Oak Harbor scores 121 compared to 115 for Yelm, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Oak Harbor can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Oak Harbor is $1,629/month compared to $1,363/month in Yelm — a 20% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Yelm has cheaper rent, Oak Harbor actually has lower median home values ($421,700 vs $439,100).

Median household income in Oak Harbor is $72,041 compared to $88,279 in Yelm (-18.4%). 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 Oak Harbor spend roughly 27.1% of their income on rent, more than the 18.5% in Yelm.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (52.1°F vs 50.5°F). Yelm receives more rainfall at 50.6" per year compared to 19.9" in Oak Harbor.