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Lacey vs North Yelm

Lacey, Washington versus North Yelm, Washington: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.

Overall livability

Lacey

Solid · objective livability50/100

North Yelm

Solid · objective livability57/100

North Yelm edges out Lacey on overall objective livability (57 vs 50 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.

Factor-by-factor comparison

FactorLaceyNorth Yelm
Affordability
Median Household Income$80k$75k
Cost of Living$55k$55k
Home Value$379k$283k
Monthly Rent$2k$1k
Monthly Owner Costs$13k$912
Property Tax Rate0.88%0.84%
Income Tax0.00%0.00%
Sales Tax9.38%9.38%
Estimated total tax burden7.29%6.24%
Unemployment5.4%2.2%
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)40°F40°F
Summer Temp (Jul)65°F65°F
Annual Precipitation54.0 in54.0 in
Annual Snowfall3.9 in3.9 in
Sunny Days187 days187 days
Summer Humidity52°F52°F
Comfortable Days99 days100 days
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk81.557.6
Air Quality36 AQI35 AQI
School Quality73.296.1
Violent Crime893/100k832/100k
Property Crime3455/100k2333/100k
Community
Population56,2632,785
Median Age36.536.8
Racial Diversity0.510.23
Male/Female Ratio0.971.30
Political LeaningD+19D+19
White (%)62.8%87.0%
Black (%)5.3%0.0%
Hispanic (%)12.2%1.1%
Asian (%)9.4%1.1%
Other / Multiracial (%)10.2%10.7%
Getting Around
Commute Time26 min
Walkability13.6/206.9/20
Airport Distance36 mi36 mi
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access91.9%94.1%
Amenities Nearby51.90262.12
Park & Nature AccessModerateModerate

Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lacey or North Yelm more affordable?
North Yelm has the lower cost of living: its index is $55k, compared with Lacey's $55k and North Yelm's $55k. Median rent is $2k in Lacey versus $1k in North Yelm.
Is Lacey or North Yelm safer?
North Yelm has the lower violent crime rate. Lacey reports 893/100k and North Yelm reports 832/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
Are homes cheaper in Lacey or North Yelm?
The median home value is $379k in Lacey and $283k in North Yelm, so homes are more affordable in North Yelm.
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