What are the schools like in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup is served primarily by Chief Leschi School. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 7.2:1.

What is the median household income in Puyallup?

The median household income in Puyallup, WA is $90,592 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup has an average high temperature of 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.1 inches and annual snowfall averages 5.6 inches.

Puyallup, WA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Puyallup, WA affordable or expensive?

Puyallup's cost of living index is 113, where 100 represents the national average. This means Puyallup is 13% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $467,000 and the median rent is $1,663 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup has a violent crime rate of 374.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3868.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Puyallup, WA a Good Place to Live?

Puyallup is a small city of 42,610 in Washington, with a median household income of $90,592 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 113 (US average = 100), which is 13% above the national average.

Strengths: Puyallup stands out for solid school ratings (B).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Puyallup is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Puyallup city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 113.0

Puyallup's overall cost of living index is 113.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Puyallup costs roughly 13% more than the average American city.

Metric	Puyallup, WA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$467,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,663	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$90,592	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Puyallup's violent crime rate is 374.7 per 100,000 residents — 1% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

374.7 /100k

Property Crime

3868.9 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Puyallup is served primarily by Chief Leschi School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Puyallup, WA	National Avg
School District	Chief Leschi School	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	7.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	93.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Puyallup sees average highs of 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July, with 45.1 inches of annual precipitation and 5.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Puyallup, WA
Average High — January	46.1°F
Average High — July	75.7°F
Annual Precipitation	45.1"
Annual Snowfall	5.6"

Demographics

Metric	Puyallup, WA	National Avg
Population	42,610	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	5.9%	6.3%
Under 18	21.8%	22.2%
65 and over	15.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

North Puyallup, WA 2 mi Alderton, WA 3 mi Summit, WA 3 mi Edgewood, WA 4 mi Waller, WA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Puyallup

Puyallup, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

98371

Puyallup vs Other Cities

Puyallup, WA vs North Puyallup, WA Puyallup, WA vs Alderton, WA Puyallup, WA vs Summit, WA Puyallup, WA vs Edgewood, WA Puyallup, WA vs Waller, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Puyallup, WA affordable or expensive?

Puyallup's cost of living index is 113, where 100 is the national average. That puts Puyallup roughly 13% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $467,000 and median rent is $1,663/month.

What is the crime rate in Puyallup, WA?

Puyallup's violent crime rate is 374.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3868.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Puyallup?

Public schools in Puyallup are operated by Chief Leschi School. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 7.2:1. 27.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Puyallup, WA a good place to live?

Puyallup, WA has a population of 42,610, a median household income of $90,592, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Puyallup?

Puyallup averages 46.1°F in January and 75.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.1 inches with about 5.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Puyallup?

Puyallup, WA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 98371.

What is the population of Puyallup?

The population of Puyallup, Washington is 42,610 with a median age of 36.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Puyallup?

Key numbers for living in Puyallup: cost of living index 113 (100 = US average), median home $467,000, median household income $90,592, crime index 133 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Puyallup side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.