Cle Elum 70 Excellent
Cle Elum Livability #242 ranked city in Washington#7,633 ranked city in the USARanks better than 73% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Cle Elum

PROS
  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    A majority of amenities are not ideally situated within a reasonable walking distance, which may lead residents to rely on a vehicle or public transportation.

  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

What's it like Living in Cle Elum?

Cle Elum, Washington is a small city with a population of 2,731 inhabitants. If we take a look at the last Census, the vast majority of the population falls within one racial group (83% White). Given that fact, Cle Elum could be considered less diverse than other cities. All the single ladies and all the single fellas might want to take notice as only 41% of the Cle Elum population is married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Cle Elum offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 20 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Whether you’re moving to a new area to be closer to family, friends or for a new job, living in Cle Elum could be a positive experience compared to other cities in Washington if you know where to search. Don't forget to determine what matters most to you in a neighborhood. Consider factors such as safety, proximity to work or school, access to amenities (like parks, fitness facilities, grocery stores, restaurants), public transportation options, community atmosphere and the overall vibe you're looking for. With useful information like amenities, crime, cost of living, commute, health & safety and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Cle Elum and in the areas around Cle Elum is a much easier task.

The livability score in Cle Elum is 69 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 74th percentile of all cities across America. If we probe a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Cle Elum has higher than average scores for the following: cost of living (B+) and housing (A-). There are some categories that Cle Elum does not rank well for, including: amenities (D-). It might be worth taking a closer look to find out why.

Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Cle Elum, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 126 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.

Unemployment rates can vary significantly among cities, impacting job prospects, wage levels and the overall economic health of an area. In Cle Elum, the unemployment rate stands at 2.7%, suggesting increased job opportunities and a heightened demand for workers. This scenario can lead to higher wages, as the demand for employees outpaces job availability. Importantly, a low unemployment rate often signifies a robust and flourishing local economy.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Cle Elum excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Cle Elum real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Cle Elum. The median home price for Cle Elum homes is $468,755, which is 4.7% lower than the Washington average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Cle Elum, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.7, which is 24.1% higher than the Washington average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Cle Elum

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      Cle Elum transportation information

      Statistic Cle Elum Washington National
      Average one way commute20min27min26min
      Workers who drive to work73.3%72.3%76.4%
      Workers who carpool9.1%10.2%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.0%6.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.0%0.9%0.6%
      Workers who walk9.8%3.6%2.8%
      Working from home7.8%5.6%4.6%
      Source: The Cle Elum, WA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.