Town guide

Tacoma, Washington

Tacoma is a city in Pierce County, Washington, home to about 222,758 people across 50 square miles. Its ZIP codes are 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98416, 98418, 98421, 98422 and 98465, and parts of 98424, 98444, 98445, 98466 and 98467 are in Tacoma too.

Homes sold for a median of $341 per square foot across 11 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 9 of 11 were seller’s markets.

Population222,7584,481 per sq mi

Median home value$479,600Census, as estimated by owners

Price per sq ft$341Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026

Sold over asking35%Median of 11 ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Tacoma

18 ZIP codes, 5 shared with neighboring towns

Tacoma, WA98402 Balanced $438/sq ft +16.7% vs. last year 5.1 months of supply · 6% sold over asking Competition 41/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98403 Seller’s market $391/sq ft +7.6% vs. last year 3.2 months of supply · 36% sold over asking Competition 77/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98404 Seller’s market $318/sq ft −2.6% vs. last year 3 months of supply · 35% sold over asking Competition 73/100

Mostly Tacoma; also Midland and Waller

Tacoma, WA98405 Seller’s market $300/sq ft +4.2% vs. last year 2.8 months of supply · 39% sold over asking Competition 79/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98406 Seller’s market $347/sq ft −1.1% vs. last year 1.8 months of supply · 35% sold over asking Competition 83/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98407 Seller’s market $414/sq ft +3.9% vs. last year 2.6 months of supply · 33% sold over asking Competition 76/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98408 Seller’s market $320/sq ft +4.6% vs. last year 1.9 months of supply · 35% sold over asking Competition 80/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98409 Seller’s market $317/sq ft −2.2% vs. last year 2.6 months of supply · 36% sold over asking Competition 78/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98416Not enough recent sales for market figures yet.

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98418 Seller’s market $272/sq ft −21.9% vs. last year 2.5 months of supply · 55% sold over asking Competition 87/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98421Not enough recent sales for market figures yet.

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98422 Balanced $358/sq ft +6.2% vs. last year 4.1 months of supply · 23% sold over asking Competition 63/100

Mostly Tacoma; also Browns Point and Fife Heights

Tacoma, WA98465 Seller’s market $341/sq ft +1.3% vs. last year 2.1 months of supply · 43% sold over asking Competition 84/100

All in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98424 Balanced $325/sq ft +0.0% vs. last year 4.8 months of supply · 13% sold over asking Competition 51/100

Mostly Fife; part is in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98444 Seller’s market $310/sq ft −2.4% vs. last year 3 months of supply · 28% sold over asking Competition 71/100

Mostly Parkland; part is in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98445 Seller’s market $282/sq ft −6.8% vs. last year 3 months of supply · 43% sold over asking Competition 77/100

Mostly Parkland; part is in Tacoma

Tacoma, WA98466 Seller’s market $351/sq ft +8.0% vs. last year 2.5 months of supply · 34% sold over asking Competition 75/100

Mostly University Place; part is in Tacoma

University Place, WA98467 Seller’s market $326/sq ft −1.6% vs. last year 2.2 months of supply · 25% sold over asking Competition 70/100

Mostly University Place; part is in Tacoma

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Tacoma. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

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History
What it’s like to live there
Getting around
Things to do

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Tacoma at a glance

City · Pierce County, WA

Population	222,7584,481 per square mile
Land area	50 square milesplus 13 of water
Median household income	$85,884average $107,897
Median home value	$479,600as estimated by owners
Median rent	$1,676/month
Homes lived in by owners	56%
Single-family houses	61% of homes
Median year built	1967
Average household	2.33 people
Median age	37.2
Average commute	29 minutes16% work from home
Adults with a degree	35%bachelor’s or higher

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for the place; town boundaries and ZIP code overlaps from the Census Bureau’s 2020 relationship files; market figures from Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Around Tacoma

Distances

Nearest major airport	Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)16 miles away
Closer regional airport	Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW)6 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+	Seattle, WA26 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Tacoma; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Tacoma

U.S. Representative · Washington’s 6th DistrictEmily Randall (D)
U.S. Representative · Washington’s 10th DistrictMarilyn Strickland (D)
U.S. SenatorMaria Cantwell (D)
U.S. SenatorPatty Murray (D)
GovernorBob Ferguson (D)
Mayor · as listed on WikidataVictoria Woodards

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Tacoma had 219,346 residents in the 2020 census, up 13% since 2000.

It’s the 3rd largest of 628 towns in Washington by population.

Pierce County grew from 55,515 residents in 1900 to 921,130 in 2020.

Pierce County, 1900–2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 77°F in summer, and winter lows average 37°F. About 40.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Tacoma #1, WA weather station (2 miles away).

Jobs in Pierce County

294,765 jobs at 20,051 businesses in Pierce County. The biggest industries by employees:

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

5,876 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Tacoma’s ZIP codes.

Nearest hospitals

St. Joseph Medical CenterGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · TacomaUnder a mile
Mary Bridge Children's HospitalChildren’s hospital · emergency room · Tacoma1.2 miles
Tacoma General Allenmore HospitalGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Tacoma1.2 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors	595
Specialist doctors	1,092
Dentists	227
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants	905
Mental health providers	2,523
Physical and occupational therapists	373
Optometrists	65
Chiropractors	96
Pharmacies	68

Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.

Places in and around Tacoma

Parks (105 nearby)

Swan Creek Park · 327 acres3.3 mi
Wapato Park · 90 acres3.2 mi
Titlow Park · 84 acres4.6 mi
Wapato Hills Park · 79 acres2.8 mi
South End Recreation & Adventure · 61 acres3.3 mi
Charlotte's Blueberry Park · 53 acres3.9 mi

Grocery stores (28 nearby)

Safeway0.6 mi
Walmart Supercenter1.2 mi
Safeway1.4 mi
Lucky Supermarket1.4 mi

Pharmacies (22 nearby)

Walgreens1.0 mi
MultiCare Pharmacy1.1 mi
Walmart Pharmacy1.2 mi
Lincoln Pharmacy1.4 mi

Libraries (13 nearby)

Tioga Library Building - S0.7 mi
Tioga Library Building - N0.7 mi
Tacoma Tool Library0.8 mi
Main Branch Tacoma Public Library0.8 mi
Mottet Library1.7 mi

Museums (14 nearby)

Buffalo Soldiers Museum0.3 mi
Washington State History Museum0.8 mi
Tacoma Art Museum0.9 mi
Children's Museum of Tacoma0.9 mi
Museum of Glass0.9 mi

Theaters and performance venues (12 nearby)

Feast Arts Center0.7 mi
SOTA Theatre1.0 mi
Tacoma Comedy Club1.0 mi
Tacoma Youth Theatre1.0 mi
Rialto Theater1.0 mi

Counts are within about 4.5 miles of the center of town.

Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1875.

Colleges and universities

University of Washington Tacoma
Tacoma Community College
Bates Technical College
Crown College

Sports teams

Tacoma Defiance MLS Next Pro
Tacoma Rainiers Pacific Coast League

Notable people born here

Bing Crosby (1903) · American singer and actor (1903–1977)
Frank Herbert (1920) · American writer (1920–1986)
Cam Gigandet (1982) · American actor
Dyan Cannon (1937) · American film and television actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer (born 1937)
Richard Brautigan (1935) · American novelist, poet, and short story writer (1935–1984)
Philip Abelson (1913) · US physicist, editor of the journal Science, and director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory (1913–2004)
Jerry Cantrell (1966) · American guitarist and singer
Isaiah Thomas (1989) · American basketball player (born 1989)

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Tacoma

Public schools here are run by Tacoma School District, Bethel School District, Franklin Pierce School District and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (91)

School	Grades	Students	Type	Distance
Arlington Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	390	Public	3.6 mi
Birney Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	476	Public	3.8 mi
Blix Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	442	Public	2.4 mi
Boze Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	485	Public	3.6 mi
Bryant Montessori SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	313	Public	0.9 mi
Chester H Thompson ElementaryTacoma	Pre-K–5	688	Public	9.0 mi
Delong Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	349	Public	2.3 mi
Downing Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	298	Public	3.2 mi
Edison Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	413	Public	2.8 mi
Edna Travis Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	337	Public	0.3 mi
Fawcett Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	426	Public	3.0 mi
Fern Hill Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	311	Public	4.3 mi
Franklin Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	260	Public	1.3 mi
Geiger Montessori SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	521	Public	3.9 mi
Helen Stafford Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	453	Public	4.7 mi
Hewins Early Learning CenterTacoma	Pre-K	266	Public	6.7 mi
Hoyt Early Learning CenterTacoma	Pre-K	—	Public	2.6 mi
Impact Public SchoolsTacoma	Pre-K–5	232	Charter	2.0 mi
Jefferson Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	358	Public	2.4 mi
Larchmont Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	303	Public	4.5 mi
Lister Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	376	Public	3.1 mi
Lyon Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	381	Public	2.1 mi
Manitou Park Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	429	Public	3.7 mi
Mann Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	340	Public	2.3 mi
N.E. Tacoma Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	418	Public	4.6 mi
Reed Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	426	Public	1.2 mi
Roosevelt Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	270	Public	2.7 mi
Sheridan Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	525	Public	2.8 mi
Skyline Elementary SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–5	329	Public	3.8 mi
Special ServicesTacoma	Pre-K–12	9	Alternative Education	1.0 mi

And 61 more.

Private schools (16)

School	Grades	Students	Affiliation	Distance
Annie Wright SchoolsTacoma	Pre-K–12	748	Episcopal	1.9 mi
Charles Wright AcademyTacoma	Pre-K–12	487	Nonsectarian	5.0 mi
Community MontessoriTacoma	Pre-K	10	Nonsectarian	0.5 mi
Faith Lutheran SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–8	97	Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod	5.0 mi
Life Christian AcademyTacoma	Pre-K–12	663	Assembly of God	1.3 mi
Parkland Lutheran Church & SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–8	106	Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod	6.8 mi
Sound Christian AcademyTacoma	Pre-K–12	297	Christian (no specific denomination)	3.2 mi
St Charles Borromeo Catholic SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–8	454	Roman Catholic	3.8 mi
St Patrick Catholic SchoolTacoma	Pre-K–8	381	Roman Catholic	1.9 mi
Tacoma Christian AcademyTacoma	Pre-K–10	321	Christian (no specific denomination)	0.6 mi
Concordia Christian AcademyTacoma	K–12	225	Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod	2.8 mi
The Cor Deo SchoolTacoma	K–8	124	Christian (no specific denomination)	1.5 mi
Visitation Catholic Stem AcademyTacoma	K–8	136	Roman Catholic	2.9 mi
Carpe Diem AcademyTacoma	1–7	13	Nonsectarian	1.8 mi
St Mary's AcademyTacoma	1–7	26	Roman Catholic	7.6 mi
Bellarmine Preparatory SchoolTacoma	9–12	889	Roman Catholic	1.6 mi

Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.

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Towns near Tacoma

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Ruston, WATown · 1,245 people4 miles away Fife Heights, WACommunity · 1,446 people4 miles away Fircrest, WACity · 7,069 people4 miles away Fife, WACity · 10,949 people4 miles away Browns Point, WACommunity · 979 people4 miles away Dash Point, WACommunity · 889 people4 miles away Waller, WACommunity · 7,683 people5 miles away University Place, WACity · 34,911 people5 miles away

More for Tacoma buyers

Pierce County property taxes Pierce County loan limits Closing costs in Washington Hottest ZIP codes in Washington Towns like Tacoma

Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.