The Town FilesElma, Washington
City in Grays Harbor County · population 3,438 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $409,600
- Household income
- $78,086
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.6
Elma is a city of 3,438 people in Grays Harbor County, Washington. The median home is worth $409,600, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). It ranks easier by car than 78% of Washington towns, quieter than 70% of Washington towns.
How Elma ranks
Percentile among Washington towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Washington towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elma is worth $409,600, below the typical Washington town ($475,000). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $78,086, which is more affordable than 55% of Washington towns. Median rent is $984 a month. 66.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elma | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $409,600 | $475,000 |
| Median rent | $984 | $1,597 |
| Median household income | $78,086 | $90,625 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 5.3× |
| Homeownership | 66.7% | 74.4% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Elma
| People | Elma | Typical Washington town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 40.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.3% | 17.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 27.6% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 13.4% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Elma
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 72.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.9 inches of snow (typical Washington town: 4.0 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elma since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Washington town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 26, 1997 about 3.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 26, 1997.
Severe weather in Grays Harbor County since 1996
Grays Harbor County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, biological, earthquake.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4906: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| December 12, 2025 | Flood | EM-3629: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| April 28, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4775: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| March 29, 2022 | Flood | DR-4650: Severe Winter Storms, Snowstorms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding |
| April 8, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4593: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Grays Harbor County
Grays Harbor County had 23,816 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,803 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Elma itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Elma
6 public schools with 1,821 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elma Elementary School | PK-5 | 695 | 15.1 |
| Elma High School | 9-12 | 511 | 19.7 |
| Elma Middle School | 6-8 | 370 | 21.8 |
| Mary M. Knight School | PK-12 | 186 | 13.3 |
| East Grays Harbor Open Doors | 9-12 | 50 | — |
| East Grays Harbor High School | 9-12 | 9 | 9.0 |
Towns near Elma
- Montesano, WA8.3 mi · 4,138 people · home $354,300
- Central Park, WA13.9 mi · 2,841 people · home $335,500
- Aberdeen, WA19.0 mi · 17,013 people · home $237,300
- Shelton, WA20.7 mi · 10,371 people · home $345,700
- Rochester, WA20.8 mi · 6,064 people · home $445,300
- Tumwater, WA23.3 mi · 25,350 people · home $472,200
- Hoquiam, WA23.6 mi · 8,776 people · home $228,200
- Grand Mound, WA23.6 mi · 3,301 people · home $411,400
Elma questions
Is Elma, Washington a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elma scores better for retirees than 48% of Washington towns and quieter than 70%. 16.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Elma?
The median owner-occupied home in Elma is valued at $409,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,086, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $984 a month.
What is the weather like in Elma?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 72.0 inches of precipitation a year and 1.9 inches of snow.
Does Elma get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elma since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 26, 1997. The typical Washington town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)