Cost of Living & Housing in Cle Elum
Cle Elum pairs no state income tax and a genuinely low, Cle-Elum-specific property tax rate with a fast-moving, real-estate-active second-home market -- alongside a real, disclosed recent home-value decline.
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Learn moreA fast-moving second-home market
Cle Elum's average Zillow home value is $597,517, down 5.6% over the past year, with homes typically going to pending in around 19 days (base record) -- a real, disclosed recent price softening alongside genuinely strong, ongoing Puget Sound-area buyer demand.
No state income tax, a genuinely low property tax rate
Washington levies no state individual income tax. Cle Elum's own effective property tax rate runs a genuinely low 0.65% -- below the broader Kittitas County figure of 0.71% (base record).
An 8.5% combined sales tax
Cle Elum's combined sales tax rate runs around 8.5%, consisting of Washington's 6.5% state base plus a local add-on (base record).
A small, seasonal, recreation-driven local economy
Cle Elum's economy leans on tourism, recreation, and second-home/weekend-getaway demand from Puget Sound-area buyers (base record) -- a real, practical consideration for anyone budgeting a year-round local job search rather than remote work or retirement income.
Key takeaways
- The average Zillow home value is $597,517, down 5.6% year-over-year, though homes still typically go to pending in about 19 days.
- No state income tax, alongside a genuinely low, Cle-Elum-specific 0.65% effective property tax rate.
- Combined sales tax runs around 8.5%.
- Cle Elum's small, recreation-driven local economy leans on tourism and second-home demand rather than a large year-round job base.
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