Elma, WA housing market
The typical Elma home is worth about $368,000, about the same as a year ago, 38% below the Washington typical home.
Home values, sales, trends and how Elma compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Elma at a glance
Only 3 sales in May 2026: in a market this size, monthly medians swing a lot, so the typical value above is the steadier guide.
Typical home value, 2016–2026
Show as a table
| January | Elma | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $179,000 | $326,000 |
| 2018 | $206,000 | $362,000 |
| 2019 | $233,000 | $390,000 |
| 2020 | $267,000 | $413,000 |
| 2021 | $319,000 | $471,000 |
| 2022 | $371,000 | $554,000 |
| 2023 | $364,000 | $572,000 |
| 2024 | $369,000 | $582,000 |
| 2025 | $372,000 | $605,000 |
| 2026 | $369,000 | $601,000 |
| August 2026 | $368,000 | $592,000 |
7 new homes permitted in 2025
Builders were permitted 7 new homes in Elma in 2025, all single-family houses, worth about $1.5 million to build. That's 2 per 1,000 residents, slower than across Washington (4.6). Over the past 10 years, Elma has permitted 48 homes in all.
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Elma gained 331 residents while 45 new homes were permitted: about 7.4 new residents per new home. Population grew faster than building, so existing homes filled up: a sign of tight supply. Across Washington: 2.7 new residents per new home.
How Elma ranks on housing keeping up with growth →
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2025 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $160,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.4 million |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.4 million |
| 2021 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $450,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $598,000 |
| 2019 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.6 million |
| 2018 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $757,000 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $585,000 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $420,000 |
| 2015 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $280,000 |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $354,000 |
| 2013 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $495,000 |
| 2012 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $495,000 |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $218,000 |
| 2010 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $564,000 |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $705,000 |
| 2008 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $462,000 |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $498,000 |
| 2006 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $555,000 |
| 2005 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $555,000 |
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $463,000 |
| 2003 | 13 | 13 | 0 | $1.2 million |
| 2002 | 12 | 10 | 2 | $1 million |
| 2001 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $820,000 |
| 2000 | 11 | 7 | 4 | $903,000 |
How Elma ranks on new homes being built →
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Elma and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elma | $368K | −0.1% | $1,140 | 7 | $78,086 |
| Satsop | — | +2.4%† | $1,140 | — | $62,241 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
4.7 years of income
The typical Elma home costs about 4.7 years of the town's median household income, less than across Washington (6 years).
How Elma ranks on affordability →
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,140
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Elma is $1,140 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Elma pay a median of $984, so moving in tends to cost more than staying put. A two-bedroom takes about 18% of the town's median household income.
Studio $860 · 4 bedrooms $1,730
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (98541; Grays Harbor County, WA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Recent listings in Elma
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center, May 2026. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.